The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis covering 32 countries and calculating global warming consequences and emissions gaps produced by four research organisations tracking climate action and global efforts towards the globally agreed aim of holding warming below 2°C, since 2009.
The CAT tracks 32 countries covering about 80% of global emissions. All the biggest emitters and a representative sample of smaller emitters covering about 80% of global emissions and approximately 70% of global population. The actions tracked are:
- Effect of current policies on emissions: The policies a government has implemented or enacted and how these are likely to affect national emission over the time period to 2030, and where possible beyond.
- Impact of pledges, targets and INDCs on national emissions over the time period to 2030, and where possible beyond.
- Fair share and comparability of effort: Whether a government is doing its “fair share” compared with others towards the global effort to limit warming below 2 degree C.
The CAT calculates global warming consequence and emissions gaps. The Climate Action Tracker assesses the total global effort of INDCs, pledges and current policies on:
- Global warming over the 21st century: Global emissions pathways consistent with government actions are analyzed and climate consequences projected using a carbon-cycle / climate model (MAGICC).
- Emissions gap: The gap in 2020, 2025 and 2030 between the emissions levels needed to limit warming below a 2°C increase above pre-industrial levels (and to bring warming below 1.5°C by 2100) and the emissions that are projected to result from INDCs, pledges and current policies.