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The 2023 Production Gap Report finds that governments plan to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 consistent with a 1.5°C warming limit. While many major producers have pledged net-zero emissions, most continue to expand production, with global coal production projected to increase until 2030 and oil and gas until at least 2050. The report argues for a managed, equitable phase-out of all fossil fuels, noting that reliance on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is risky due to technical uncertainties and a poor track record of pilot project success.

The 2023 Production Gap Report finds that global governments plan to produce significantly more fossil fuels by 2030 and 2050 than is consistent with the 1.5°C warming limit. Despite net-zero pledges, many major producers continue to plan increases in coal, oil, and gas extraction. The report argues for a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, noting that reliance on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is risky due to technical and economic uncertainties.

The report identifies a significant global cooling access gap affecting approximately 3.4 billion people, categorized into the rural poor, slum dwellers, carbon captives, and middle-income groups. It highlights the critical role of cooling in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly regarding heat-related mortality, vaccine preservation, and agricultural food loss. The document emphasizes the intersection of the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, warning that unmanaged demand for inefficient air conditioning could lead to a massive increase in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It proposes a holistic 'thinking thermally' approach, combining passive cooling, district cooling, and efficient technology with innovative financing models like PAYGO to provide sustainable cooling for all.