Dailynewsun News Desk
The UN secretary general has called on all countries to declare a climate emergency.
António Guterres made this call while speaking at a virtual summit on the fifth anniversary of the Paris climate agreement, reports BBC
He criticised rich countries for spending 50% more of their pandemic recovery cash on fossil fuels compared to low-carbon energy. Over 70 world leaders are due to speak at the meeting organised by the UK, UN and France.
Mr Guterres said that 38 countries had already declared a climate emergency and he called on leaders worldwide to now do the same.
He said the emergency would only end when carbon neutrality was reached. Carbon neutrality means that emissions have been reduced as much as possible and any remaining ones are balanced by removing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere,
On the Covid recovery spending, he said that this is money being borrowed from future generations.
“We cannot use these resources to lock in policies that burden future generations with a mountain of debt on a broken planet,” he said.
The secretary general praised those countries who have come to today’s meeting with new targets and plans.
A number of big emitters, including Australia, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Mexico, are not taking part, as their climate actions were not deemed ambitious enough.
The UK has announced an end to support for overseas fossil fuel projects, and has today deposited a new climate plan with the UN.
It’s the first time that Britain has had to do this, as it was previously covered by the European Union’s climate commitments.
Today’s virtual gathering is taking place after the pandemic caused the postponement of the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting, which had been due to take place in Glasgow this year.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the year was coming to an end with “a certain amount of scientific optimism” because “barely 12 months after the start of the pandemic, we’re seeing the vaccine going into the arms of the elderly”.
He added: “Together we can use scientific advances to protect our entire planet – our biosphere – against a challenge far worse, far more destructive even than the coronavirus. And by the promethean power of our invention, we can begin to defend the Earth against the disaster of global warming.”
The UK says that today’s short, action-oriented summit will put a premium on new commitments from countries.
Around 70 leaders from all over the world will take part, including the Secretary General of the United Nations, and President Macron of France. Pope Francis will also address the meeting.
The UK pointed to its new commitment on overseas fossil fuel projects as well as a new carbon cutting target of 68% by 2030, announced last week by the prime minister.
The EU also presented a new 2030 target of a 55% cut in emissions, agreed after all-night negotiations this week. “That is now Europe’s calling card,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. “It is the go-ahead for scaling up climate action across our economy and society.”
China’s President Xi Jinping reiterated a previous commitment to reach peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
On Saturday, he announced that China would reduce its carbon emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by over 65% compared with 2005 levels. The country will also increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption by about 25%. And President Xi pledged to increase forest cover and boost wind and solar capacity.
