On Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the world is “miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement” as global leaders gathered in Dubai for the UN COP28 climate conference.
Addressing the summit, Guterres warned that “Earth’s vital signs are failing” amid record temperatures.
“Just days ago, I was on the melting ice of Antarctica. Not long before, I was among the melting glaciers of Nepal.These two spots are far in distance, but united in crisis,” he said.
“Polar ice and glaciers are vanishing before our eyes, causing havoc the world over: from landslides and floods, to rising seas.”
“But this is just one symptom of the sickness bringing our climate to its knees.”
He said this was only a sickness only global leaders could cure.
“Earth’s vital signs are failing: record emissions, ferocious fires, deadly droughts and the hottest year ever,” he added. “We are miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement – and minutes to midnight for the 1.5-degree limit.”
“But it is not too late. You can prevent planetary crash and burn.”
“We have the technologies to avoid the worst of climate chaos – if we act now.”
Guterres said the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has charted a clear path to a 1.5-degree world, but the world needs leadership, cooperation, and political will to achieve that goal.
“And we need it now,” he added. “Our world is unequal and divided.”
“As we see in this region, conflicts are causing immense suffering and intense emotion. And climate chaos is fanning the flames of injustice.”
“Global heating is busting budgets, ballooning food prices, upending energy markets, and feeding a cost-of-living crisis.”
“Climate action can flip the switch.”
Guterres said renewable energy is the “gift that keeps on giving” and is vital in the fight against climate change.
“It is good for our planet, our health, and our economies. Cleaning our air, meeting the world’s growing energy demand, connecting millions of people to affordable electricity, bringing stability and security to markets, and saving money – renewable energy has never been cheaper.”
He added: “The diagnosis is clear. The success of this COP depends on the Global Stocktake prescribing a credible cure in three areas.”
This includes drastically cutting emissions, he said.
“Current policies would lead to an earth-scorching three-degree temperature rise. The Global Stocktake must set clear expectations for economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions, that cover all greenhouse gases, and align with the 1.5-degree limit.”
“The G20 – which represents 80 per cent of the world’s emissions — must lead.”
Guterres urged countries to speed up their net zero timelines, and “to get there as close as possible to 2040 in developed countries and 2050 in emerging economies.”
Secondly, he said, “we cannot save a burning planet with a firehose of fossil fuels.”
“The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate.”
Third, climate justice is long overdue, said Guterres
“Developing countries are being devastated by disasters they did not cause. Extortionate borrowing costs are blocking their climate action plans. And support is far too little, far too late.”
He said the Global Stocktake must commit to a surge in finance, including for adaptation and loss and damage.
“And it must support reform of the multilateral development banks to leverage far more private finance at reasonable costs.”
“Developed countries must show how they will double adaptation finance to $40 billion a year by 2025 – as promised – and clarify how they deliver on the $100 billion – as promised.”
Addressing world leaders, he concluded: “The climate challenge is not just another issue in your inbox. Protecting our climate is the world’s greatest test of leadership. I urge you to lead. Humanity’s fate hangs in the balance.”
