During the COP27, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned everyone in attendance of the consequences of the climate crisis.
On November 6, the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference started in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The UN member states are invited to the conference to discuss the state of the world today and the mitigation strategies that could fend off the effects of the climate crisis. According to Guterres, the global effort to combat the crisis is failing. As a result, he issued a stern warning to all countries, pleading with them to stop using coal by 2040.
“We are in the fight of our lives, and we are losing. Greenhouse gas emissions keep growing, global temperatures keep rising, and our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible,” the secretary-general said.
“We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator. (The war Ukraine and other conflicts) caused so much bloodshed and violence and had dramatic impacts all over the world. But we cannot accept that our attention is not focused on climate change,” he added.
Guterres urged an end to the suffering caused by conflict and war for many people. But he gave special attention to the ongoing battle against climate change. Climate change, according to Guterres, is a unique phenomenon with a distinct timeline and scope.
“It is the defining issue of our age. It is the central challenge of our century. And it is unacceptable, outrageous and self-defeating to put it on the back burner.”
Read Also: Democrats should Encourage Black Voters to Cast Ballots says Experts
Guterres places importance in human action
Climate change is made worse by the issues that countries face. For instance, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia led to a gas and oil shortage, which compelled other countries to engage in the mining of coal and fossil fuels. However, Guterres pointed out that since human activity is a contributing factor to climate issues, human action must also be part of the solution.
“The science is clear: Any hope of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees means achieving global net-zero emissions by 2050. But that 1.5-degree goal is on life support — and the machines are rattling.”
The Paris Agreement from 2015 outlines how to achieve the 1.5 degree Celsius goal. And Guterres hopes that all nations and COP27 participants follow the rules and guidelines outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement. He thinks the planet is on the verge of passing the “point of no return.”
“To avoid that dire fate, all G-20 countries must accelerate their transition now. Developed countries must take the lead, but emerging economies are critical to bending the global emissions curve. End dependence on fossil fuels and building new coal plants — phasing out coal in OECD countries by 2030 and everywhere else by 2040.”
Read Also: Starbucks Sales Increases Amid Us Inflation
Pacts between nations
Countries should sign a Climate Solidarity Pact, according to Guterres. This would help the nations achieve their goal. However, according to Guterres, China and the United States have a special responsibility to see that the agreement is implemented.
“Humanity has a choice. Cooperate or perish. It is either a Climate Solidarity Pact or a Collective Suicide Pact.”
Photo Credit: The Washington Post
Source: CNBC
