THUR, SEPT 21 2023-theGBJournal |The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres challenged politicians, business, activists and civil society leaders at the UN Climate Ambition Summit, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, to prevent the cascading climate disasters through a just and equitable energy transition, before it’s too late.
Guterres told the leaders that ”Humanity has opened the gates of hell” in his impassioned address, and warned about the dire consequences of inaction.
”Our focus here is on climate solutions – and our task is urgent,” Guterres said while describing the effects horrendous heat is having globally.
”Distraught farmers watching crops carried away by floods; Sweltering temperatures spawning disease and thousands fleeing in fear as historic fires rage.”
According to Guterres, climate action is dwarfed by the scale of the challenge.
”If nothing changes we are heading towards a 2.8 degree temperature rise – towards a dangerous and unstable world.” But the future is not fixed,” he added saying ”it is for leaders like you to write it.”
”We can still limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees. We can still build a world of clear air, green jobs, and affordable clean power for all. The path forward is clear. It has been forged by fighters and trailblazers – some of whom are with us today:
Activists refusing to be silenced, Indigenous Peoples defending their lands from climate extremes and corporate chief Executives transforming their business models and financiers funding a just transition with Mayors moving towards to a zero-carbon future.”
He noted that governments are working to stamp out fossil fuels and protect vulnerable communities.
”But if we are to meet the 1.5 degree limit and protect ourselves from climate extremes, climate champions, particularly in the developing world, need solidarity,” he urged.
They need support, and they need global leaders to take action.
The Secretary General spoke to the for action to reduce emissions.
The move from fossil fuels to renewables is happening – but we are decades behind. We must make up time lost to foot-dragging, arm-twisting and the naked greed of entrenched interests raking in billions from fossil fuels.”
The proposed Climate Solidarity Pact calls on major emitters – who have benefitted most from fossil fuels – to make extra efforts to cut emissions, and on wealthy countries to support emerging economies to do so.
”And the Acceleration Agenda I proposed calls on governments to hit fast forward- So that developed countries reach net zero as close as possible to 2040, and emerging economies as close as possible to 2050 according to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.”
It also urges countries to implement a fair, equitable and just energy transition, while providing affordable electricity to all, by ensuring credible plans to exit coal by 2030 for OECD countries and 2040 for the rest of the world, by ending fossil fuel subsidies – which the IMF estimates reached an incredible US $7 trillion in 2022 and by setting ambitious renewable energy goals in line with the 1.5 degree limit.
The Acceleration Agenda also calls for climate justice.
”Many of the poorest nations have every right to be angry,” Guterres said adding ”angry that they are suffering most from a climate crisis they did nothing to create. Angry that promised finance has not materialized and angry that their borrowing costs are sky-high.”
He said the world need a transformation to rebuild trust.
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