UN Environment Report Publishes Without Government Backing Amid Fossil Fuel Dispute

The Global Environment Outlook, a key UN report on the state of the global environment, has been published without the support of governments after its co-chair accused the United States and other countries of "hijacking" the report over its findings on fossil fuels. The report, the result of six years' work, connects climate change, nature loss, and pollution to unsustainable consumption by people living in wealthy and emerging economies. It warns of a "dire future" for millions unless there's a rapid move away from coal, oil, and gas and fossil fuel subsidies. According to the report's co-chair, the US and its allies objected to a summary of the report's conclusions at a meeting with government representatives to agree the findings. The scientists were unwilling to water down or change their findings, and as a result, the report has been published without the summary. Researchers say the objections to this new report reflect similar concerns expressed by countries at the recent COP30 talks. The Global Environment Outlook report highlights the need for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels to mitigate the effects of climate change. The report's co-chair stated that the US and its allies were unwilling to accept the report's findings, which they saw as too critical of their reliance on fossil fuels. "It's a hijacking of the report," the co-chair said. "They're not willing to accept the science, and that's a problem." The report's findings are based on six years of research and data collection from around the world. It warns that the continued use of fossil fuels will lead to catastrophic consequences, including rising sea levels, more frequent natural disasters, and the loss of biodiversity. The report also highlights the need for governments to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and invest in renewable energy. The US government has been criticized for its reluctance to accept the report's findings. The country has been a major consumer of fossil fuels, and its reliance on coal, oil, and gas has contributed significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The US government has not commented on the report's findings, but officials have stated that the country is committed to reducing its carbon emissions. The publication of the report without the support of governments has weakened its impact, according to researchers. The report's co-chair stated that the lack of government support will make it harder to implement the report's recommendations. "We need governments to take action, and if they're not willing to accept the science, it's going to be very difficult to make progress," the co-chair said. The Global Environment Outlook report is just one of several reports that have highlighted the need for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels. The report's findings are consistent with those of other international organizations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC has warned that the world has just a few years to take action to mitigate the effects of climate change. The publication of the report without the support of governments is a setback for efforts to address climate change. However, researchers say that the report's findings will still be widely read and discussed by policymakers and scientists around the world. The report's co-chair stated that the report's findings will continue to be relevant, even without the support of governments. "The science is clear, and we hope that governments will eventually accept it," the co-chair said.