https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/03/climate-action-un-antonio-guterres
The movement to take climate action has begun – but we have a long way to go
António Guterres
Young people, the UN and a growing number of leaders are mobilizing, but
we need many others to take action, the UN secretary general writes
On the eve of the September UN climate action summit, young women and
men around the world mobilized by the millions and told global leaders:
“You are failing us”.
They are right.
Global emissions are increasing. Temperatures are rising. The
consequences for oceans, forests, weather patterns, biodiversity, food
production, water, jobs and, ultimately, lives, are already dire – and
set to get much worse.
The science is undeniable. But in many places, people don’t need a chart
or graph to understand the climate crisis. They can simply look out the
window.
Climate chaos is playing out in real time from California to the
Caribbean, and from Africa to the Arctic and beyond. Those who
contributed least to the problem are suffering the most.
I have seen it with my own eyes from cyclone-battered Mozambique to the
hurricane-devastated Bahamas to the rising seas of the South Pacific.
I called on the climate action summit to serve as a springboard to set
us on the right path ahead of crucial 2020 deadlines established by the
Paris agreement on climate change. And many leaders – from many
countries and sectors – stepped up.
A broad coalition – not just governments and youth, but businesses,
cities, investors and civil society – came together to move in the
direction our world so desperately needs to avert climate catastrophe.
More than 70 countries committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050,
even if major emitters have not yet done so. More than 100 cities did
the same, including several of the world’s largest.
At least 70 countries announced their intention to boost their national
plans under the Paris agreement by 2020.
Small Island States together committed to achieve carbon neutrality and
to move to 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Countries from Pakistan to Guatemala, Colombia to Nigeria, New Zealand
to Barbados vowed to plant more than 11bn trees.
More than 100 leaders in the private sector committed to accelerating
their move into the green economy.
A group of the world’s largest asset-owners – responsible for directing
more than $2tn – pledged to move to carbon-neutral investment portfolios
by 2050.
This is in addition to a recent call by asset managers representing
nearly half the world’s invested capital – some $34tn – for global
leaders to put a meaningful price on carbon and phase out fossil fuel
subsidies and thermal coal power worldwide.
The International Development Finance Club pledged to mobilize $1tn in
clean energy funding by 2025 in 20 least developed countries.
One-third of the global banking sector signed up to align their
businesses with the Paris agreement objectives and sustainable
development goals.
The summit also showcased ways in which cities and global industries
like shipping can achieve major reductions in emissions. Initiatives to
protect forests and safeguard water supplies were also highlighted.
These steps are all important – but they are not sufficient.
From the beginning, the summit was designed to jolt the world and
accelerate action on a wider scale. It also served as a global stage for
hard truths and to shine a light on those who are leading and those who
are not. Deniers or major emitters have nowhere to hide.
I will continue to encourage them to do much more at home and drive
green economic solutions around the world.
Our planet needs action on a truly planetary scale. That cannot be
achieved overnight, and it cannot happen without the full engagement of
those contributing most to the crisis.
If our world is to avoid the climate cliff, far more is needed to heed
the call of science and cut greenhouse emissions by 45% by 2030; reach
carbon neutrality by 2050; and limit temperature rise to 1.5C by the end
of the century. That’s how we can secure the future of our world.
Too many countries still seem to be addicted to coal – even though
cheaper, greener options are available already. We need much more
progress on carbon pricing, ensuring no new coal plants by 2020, and
ending trillions of dollars in giveaways of hard-earned taxpayers’ money
to a dying fossil fuel industry to boost hurricanes, spread tropical
diseases and heighten conflict.
At the same time, developed countries must fulfill their commitment to
provide $100bn a year from public and private sources by 2020 for
mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.
And I will make sure that the commitments that countries, the private
sector and local authorities have made are accounted for – starting in
December at the UN climate conference in Santiago, Chile. The UN is
united in support of realizing these initiatives.
Climate change is the defining issue of our time.
Science tells us that on our current path, we face at least 3C of global
heating by the end of the century. I will not be there, but my
granddaughters will.
I refuse to be an accomplice in the destruction of their one and only home.
Young people, the UN – and a growing number of leaders from business,
finance, government, and civil society – in short, many of us – are
mobilizing and acting.
But we need many others to take climate action if we are to succeed.
We have a long way to go. But the movement has begun.
António Guterres is secretary general of the United Nations
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