World News for Students of English

01-11-2024 15:00

According to a recent UN report, global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases are falling far behind.

Data shows that these gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, are accumulating in the atmosphere at unprecedented rates. Over the last 20 years, levels have increased by 11%, with an additional rise in 2023 due to fossil fuel use, widespread forest fires, and the effects of El Niño. Researchers warn that forests, a major carbon absorber, may now be losing their ability to capture as much carbon as they once did. If this trend continues, it will weaken the natural systems that reduce atmospheric carbon.

Despite climate plans created at the COP26 conference, most governments haven’t made significant progress. Next year’s global climate conference is expected to bring updated, stronger plans, but scientists say much more drastic action is needed to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2030. The UN emphasizes the need for urgent, effective global steps.

Difficult words: unprecedented (never seen before), absorber (a person or thing that takes in or soaks up something), drastic (having very noticeable effects).

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