The Secretary General of the United Nations affirmed this Friday, at the opening of the World Summit on Climate Action, in Dubai, that it is still possible to avoid the “collapse and burning of the planet” if countries act “now”, with leadership, cooperation and political will.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the meeting of political leaders within the framework of the 28th United Nations climate change conference (COP 28), António Guterres urged countries to adopt urgent measures to “drastically reduce emissions” , accelerate the just transition and an equitable approach to renewable energy and promote climate justice that protects developing countries.
The UN Secretary General began by congratulating the President of COP28, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, for the “positive start” of the conference, “with a rapid approval of the agenda and the historic launch of the Casualty and Loss Fund.” Damage”.
Recalling that in a short space of time he witnessed the melting of the polar ice cap and the melting of glaciers in two distant parts of the planet – Antarctica and Nepal -, Guterres said that the disappearance of polar ice and glaciers, in In plain sight, it is causing damage around the world, from landslides and floods to rising sea levels, a “disease” that world leaders “can cure.”
“Earth’s vital signs are failing: record emissions, devastating fires, deadly droughts and the hottest year on record. We are miles from the Paris Agreement goals, and minutes from midnight to the 1.5 limit degrees. But it is not too late. It is possible “To avoid the collapse and burning of the planet. “We have the technologies necessary to avoid the worst of climate chaos, if we act now,” he said.
Recalling that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change outlined “a clear path” to limit global warming to 1.5 ºC above the average values of the pre-industrial era, the UN Secretary General stressed that this requires “leadership – cooperation – and political will”. will” and is needed “now”.
António Guterres drew attention to the fact that global warming “is blowing up budgets, skyrocketing food prices, disrupting energy markets and fueling a cost-of-living crisis.”
For the UN official, climate action can change the situation and renewable energies are the right path for the planet, health and the economy.
“The diagnosis is clear: first, dramatically reduce emissions. The G20, which accounts for 80% of global emissions, must take the lead. I urge countries to accelerate their net-zero emissions schedules to achieve this goal as closely as possible. possible by 2040 in developed countries and 2050 in emerging economies,” he stated.
Secondly, António Guterres highlighted the need to accelerate a fair and equitable transition towards renewable energies, because the 1.5 degree goal is only possible with the end of fossil fuels, to provide “clean energy for all in 2030” .
“I have a message for the leaders of fossil fuel companies: their old path is aging rapidly. Don’t be fooled by an outdated business model. Lead the transition to renewable energy. Make no mistake: the path to sustainability The Climate change is also the only viable path towards the economic sustainability of their companies,” he argued.
Guterres urged governments to help the industry make “the right choice” by regulating, legislating, putting a fair price on carbon, ending fossil fuel subsidies and adopting a windfall tax.
Third, the Secretary-General of the United Nations highlighted that “climate justice is long overdue,” as “developing countries are being devastated by catastrophes of their own making.”
“Exorbitant borrowing costs are blocking their climate action plans. And support is too little, too late,” he said, adding that the bottom line must include a commitment to increase financing, particularly for adaptation and losses and damage.
“And it must support the reform of multilateral development banks to mobilize much more private financing at reasonable costs,” he stressed, urging developed countries to show how they will double adaptation financing to $40 billion per year by 2025 – as promised – and clarify how he will meet the 100 billion dollars, as promised.
COP28 will run until December 12.
Source: TSF
