Climate change is affecting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations (UN), an international report reveals this Thursday, which states that only 15% of the objectives of the 2030 Agenda They are on track.
The ‘United in Science’ report [Unidos na Ciência]prepared by international agencies and coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), analyzes the impact of climate change and extreme weather conditions, addressing how climate and water science can advance objectives such as food and water security, clean energy and better health. , sustainable oceans and resilient cities.
In a press conference, UN Secretary General António Guterres regretted that 2023 has shown “too clearly” that climate change “is here”, highlighting that rising temperatures are having serious consequences on the earth and the environment. sea, in addition to a greater incidence of extreme weather events. phenomena.
“We know that this is just the beginning and that the global response is falling short. Meanwhile, halfway to the 2030 deadline for the SDGs, the world is woefully off track,” warned Guterres, adding that science It is “fundamental” to the solutions necessary to advance the achievement of the objectives.
According to the document, between 1970 and 2021, around 12,000 disasters due to extreme weather, climate and water phenomena were reported, resulting in more than two million deaths and $4.3 billion in losses. More than 90% of deaths and 60% of economic losses occurred in developing economies.
The Secretary General of the WMO, Petteri Taalas, affirmed that the scientific community is united and stressed that technological development – such as high-resolution climate models or artificial intelligence – can improve the achievement of the SDGs and that “Early Warning for “Everyone 2027” – an initiative launched last year by António Guterres – will save lives.
The report further explains how weather forecasts help increase food production and reduce hunger, while integrating epidemiology and climate information helps anticipate climate-sensitive diseases, while early warning systems can alleviate poverty. , giving people the opportunity to prepare for the impacts.
The probability that the global average near-surface temperature will temporarily exceed 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels [limite a partir do qual os impactos das alterações climáticas poderão ser catastróficos] in the next five years it will already be 66%, maintains the document, which also states that global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 45 percent to limit warming to 1.5 degrees by 2030 and that greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gases must be closer to carbon dioxide (CO2). zero by 2050.
In this context, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Inger Andersen, maintained that science continues to show that “not enough is being done” to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate reduction. emissions.
“As the world prepares for the first global stocktake at COP28, we must increase our ambition and action, and we must all do what we can. Real work to transform our economies through a just transition to a sustainable future for people and the planet”. , He concluded.
Source: TSF
