Belém, Brazil – The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has delivered a stark warning to world leaders, stating that the world is on track to exceed the 1.5°C limit, with devastating consequences for humanity.
In a passionate address at the opening plenary of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, Guterres emphasized that the current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are insufficient to meet the 1.5°C target, and that even if fully implemented, they would put the world on a pathway to 2°C of warming.
“The hard truth is that we have failed to ensure we remain below 1.5 degrees,” Guterres said. “Science now tells us that a temporary overshoot beyond the 1.5 limit – starting at the latest in the early 2030s – is inevitable. We need a paradigm shift to limit this overshoot’s magnitude and duration and quickly drive it down.”
Guterres highlighted the urgent need for accelerated climate action, citing the devastating impacts of climate change, including record-breaking wildfires, deadly floods, and super storms.
“We are not on track to meet the 1.5°C target, and the consequences will be catastrophic,” Guterres warned. “It’s a moral failure – and deadly negligence. We have the solutions, but we need to implement them now.”
The UN chief outlined three key areas for action:
–Accelerating the transition to renewable energy: Supercharging renewables, electrification, and energy efficiency, and phasing out fossil fuels.
-Delivering climate finance: Mobilizing $1.3 trillion a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2035, with developed countries taking the lead.
– Supporting vulnerable countries: Closing the adaptation finance gap, providing debt relief, and ensuring a just transition for developing countries.
Guterres urged world leaders to seize the opportunity to make Belém a turning point in the fight against climate change, saying “It’s no longer time for negotiations. It’s time for implementation, implementation and implementation.”
Key Developments at COP30:
– Tropical Forests Forever Facility: Brazil launched a new initiative to protect tropical forests, aiming to raise $125 billion.
– Baku to Belém Roadmap: A plan to scale climate finance to $1.3 trillion a year, focusing on grants and private capital access.
-Local Climate Action: Mayors and governors gathered in Rio to turbocharge global climate action, unveiling a $168 million commitment to strengthen local climate leadership.
– Global Stocktake: Countries are finalizing the first comprehensive assessment of progress under the Paris Agreement, highlighting gaps and opportunities for accelerated action.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
