Carbon emissions ‘will drop just 40% by 2050 with countries’ current pledges’

International Energy Agency says $4tn investment needed over decade to reach net zero target

Current plans to cut global carbon emissions will fall 60% short of their 2050 net zero target, the International Energy Agency has said, as it urged leaders to use the upcoming Cop26 climate conference to send an unmistakable signal" with concrete policy plans.

In its annual World Energy Outlook, redesigned this year as a guidebook" for world leaders attending the summit in Glasgow, the IEA predicted that carbon emissions would decrease by just 40% by the middle of the century if countries stick to their climate pledges.