Emission Gap Report 2026 | 𝗞𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗜 𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗠 (𝗞𝗧𝗦 𝟱.𝟬) | 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔 𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗨𝗦 | 𝗦𝗔𝗞𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗩 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗭𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Emission Gap Report 2026

Environment

Context

• The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has released the Emission Gap Report 2026.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

• Released annually by 𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗣 ahead of the 𝗨𝗡 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
• Assesses the gap between current emission projections and the reductions needed to achieve the 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 goals.
• Based on countries’ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗡𝗗𝗖𝘀), updated every 𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.

𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

• 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗛𝗚 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Approximately 𝟱𝟴.𝟰 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗢₂ 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 in 2025, broadly unchanged from 2024.
• 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀: More than 𝘁𝘄𝗼-𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 of emissions came from fossil sources.
• 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀: CO₂ from fossil fuels, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases increased in 2025; methane emissions remained nearly stable.
• 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: G20 members, excluding the African Union, accounted for approximately 𝟳𝟲% of global emissions.
• 𝟭.𝟱°𝗖 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁: Limiting warming to 1.5°C is increasingly difficult; the report discusses a possible 𝟭.𝟴°𝗖 outcome under certain climate pathways.
• 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮: The third-largest GHG emitter, but its 𝗽𝗲𝗿-𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 are significantly lower than those of the two largest emitters.

𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗣

• 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱: 1972.
• 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Nairobi, Kenya.
• 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲: Leading environmental authority within the UN system.
• 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆: United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).
• 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀: Global Environment Outlook, Emissions Gap Report, Adaptation Gap Report and Frontiers Report.

Additional Information- Paris Agreement on Climate Change, 2015 (COP 21)

• It was adopted at the United framework convention on climate change(COP21) in Paris in 2015.
• Objective – To strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change and specify long-term goals regarding global average temperatures, adaptation to climate change, and finance flows.

Paris agreement Goals

• Temperature – To hold global warming below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to put efforts to still limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• Reduce emissions – To foster climate resilience and development through lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

Intended Nationally Determined Targets(INDCs)  

• An Intended Nationally Determined Contribution is a public pledge from a country on collective action on climate change. These contributions are to be achieved before 2030

India’s Climate Action Targets at a Glance

𝗞𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗜 𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗠 (𝗞𝗧𝗦 𝟱.𝟬)

History & Culture

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁

• The Union Education Minister launched the registration portal for the 𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 5.0).
• 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: “𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘂𝗸𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗼𝗺 – 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗨𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘂𝗸𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹.”

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗺

• 𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: Celebrate and strengthen the age-old 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀 between 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹 𝗡𝗮𝗱𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶, two ancient centres of learning.
• 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Promotes cultural exchange and the spirit of 𝗘𝗸 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁.
• 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Held in 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮.
• 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿: Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘂𝗸𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹

• 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘂𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘃𝗮𝗿, a revered Tamil poet and philosopher.
• 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: Classical Tamil literary work offering ethical, philosophical and practical guidance on individual conduct, society and governance.
• 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟭,𝟯𝟯𝟬 couplets (kurals), arranged into 𝟭𝟯𝟯 chapters, with 𝟭𝟬 couplets per chapter.
• 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀:
  • 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗺 – Virtue
  • 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗹 – Wealth
  • 𝗜𝗻𝗯𝗮𝗺 – Love
• These three parts guide individuals towards 𝗩𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘂 (liberation).

𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔 𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗨𝗦

Health & Society

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁

• French health authorities reported the first known human case of Shamonda virus infection.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘂𝘀

• 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Midge-borne animal virus belonging to the Simbu serogroup of Orthobunyaviruses.
• 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀: Schmallenberg virus and Akabane virus.
• 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁: Cattle.
• 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲: Fever, diarrhoea and reduced milk production.
• 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Nigeria, in the mid-1960s.
• 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Reported sporadically in West, East and Southern Africa, and Japan.
• 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Through the bites of Culicoides midges.
• 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿-𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀: Bluetongue and epizootic haemorrhagic disease.

𝗦𝗔𝗞𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗩 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗭𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Miscellaneous

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁

• The European Union awarded the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 (𝗜𝗖𝗖) the 𝗦𝗮𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘃 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁, amid US sanctions targeting the Court.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘃 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲

• 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱: 1988.
• 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿: Andrei Sakharov, Soviet dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
• 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲: Honours individuals and groups defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.
• 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The final laureate(s) are chosen by the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament, comprising its president and the leaders of its political groups.
• 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆: €50,000.
• 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆: Held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, each December.

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄?

• Sakharov laureates who later received the Nobel Peace Prize include Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 (𝗜𝗖𝗖)

• 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: The Hague, Netherlands.
• 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱: 2002 under the Rome Statute.
• 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: Permanent international criminal court, legally independent of the United Nations.
• 𝗝𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Prosecutes individuals for four core international crimes:
  • Genocide
  • Crimes against humanity
  • War crimes
  • Crime of aggression

𝗜𝗖𝗖 𝘃𝘀 𝗜𝗖𝗝

• 𝗜𝗖𝗖: Prosecutes individuals for serious international crimes.
• 𝗜𝗖𝗝: Principal judicial organ of the United Nations; settles legal disputes between states and provides advisory opinions.