UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has called for what he describes as a historic pact between developed and developing countries which will see them combine capacities towards reducing carbon emissions, transforming energy systems, and avoiding a climate catastrophe.
Addressing over 100 world leaders reunited for the first official plenary of the UN Climate Change Conference, the UN boss said “humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish. It is either a Climate Solidarity Pact – or a Collective Suicide Pact”.
According to reports, the proposed Pact would see all countries taking extra efforts to reduce emissions, wealthier nations and international financial institutions providing assistance to emerging economies, ending dependence on fossil fuels and the building of coals plants, providing sustainable energy for all, and uniting to combine strategy and capacities for the benefit of humankind.
Guterres emphasized that the two largest economies – the United States and China – have a particular responsibility to join efforts to make the pact a reality which is “our only hope of meeting our climate goals”.
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Improved finance for adaptation
During the gathering, the UN chief also called for progress on adaptation and building resilience to future climate disruption, stating that three-and-a-half billion people live in countries highly vulnerable to climate impacts.
According to him, this would mean countries delivering the promise made in COP26 last year of $40 billion in adaptation support by 2025.
He warned that “we need a roadmap on how this will be delivered. And we must recognize that this is only a first step, adding that adaptation needs are set to grow to more than $300 billion dollars a year by 2030.
Guterres further stressed the need for international financial institutions and banks to change their business model and do their part, stressing that the 8 billionth member of the human family will be born, and that milestone puts into perspective what COP27 is all about.
“How will we answer when ‘Baby 8 Billion’ is old enough to ask: What did you do for our world – and for our planet – when you had the chance?” he asked.
Time to collaborate
Guterres maintained that there was no better time for countries to come together for the implementation of various agreements reached than now. He said that the global climate fight would be won or lost in this crucial decade and on the watch of current world leaders.
“Solidarity that respects all human rights and guarantees a safe space for environmental defenders and all actors in society to contribute to our climate response,” he said. “Let’s not forget that the war on nature is in itself a massive violation of human rights.”
According to him, one thing is certain and that is the fact that those who give up are sure to lose, hence we must “fight together and win for the 8 billion members of our human family and for generations to come”.
Story was adapted from UN News.
