ISTANBUL
\nThe UN chief on Friday warned of the catastrophic effects of climate change, saying that \u201chumanity\u2019s fate hangs in the balance.\u201d
\n\u201cThe climate challenge is not just another issue in your inbox. Protecting our climate is the world\u2019s greatest test of leadership. I urge you to lead,\u201d UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders in his address to the COP28 climate summit in UAE\u2019s city of Dubai.
\nThe UN chief also said the conference should be a ray of hope in the struggle against climate change.
\n\u201cMake this COP a new hope for the future,\u201d he told the world leaders attending the conference.
\n\u201cYou can prevent planetary crash and burn. We need leadership, cooperation, and political will. And we need it now,\u201d Guterres said, adding that climate justice is \u201clong overdue.\u201d
\n\u201cDeveloping countries are being devastated by disasters they did not cause,\u201d he said. \u201cExtortionate borrowing costs are blocking their climate action plans. And support is far too little, far too late,\u201d Guterres also warned.
\n\u2018Earth\u2019s vital signs are failing\u2019 Guterres also warned that \u201cEarth\u2019s vital signs are failing.\u201d \u201cRecord emissions, ferocious fires, deadly droughts and the hottest year ever.
\nWe are miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement \u2013 and minutes to midnight for the 1.5-degree limit,\u201d he said, referring to the global temperature rise target set back in 2021 during the COP26.
\n\u201cBut it is not too late. You can prevent planetary crash and burn. We have the technologies to avoid the worst of climate chaos \u2013 if we act now.\u201d
\nGuterres also mentioned his recent trip to Antarctica.
\n\u201cJust 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,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cPolar ice and glaciers are vanishing before our eyes, causing havoc the world over: from landslides and floods to rising seas,\u201d the secretary-general added.
\n\u201cBut this is just one symptom of the sickness bringing our climate to its knees.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Bombs are dropping on Gaza\u2019
\nGuterres also referred to the societal and political effects of climate change.
\n\u201cAs we see in this region, conflicts are causing immense suffering and intense emotion. And climate chaos is fanning the flames of injustice,\u201d he said, adding that the \u201cbombs are dropping on Gaza,\u201d in a reference to Israel\u2019s ongoing aggression.
\n\u201cGlobal heating is busting budgets, ballooning food prices, upending energy markets, and feeding a cost-of-living crisis,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cClimate action can flip the switch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Renewables cheaper than ever
\nThe secretary-general also emphasized the importance of using renewables and said that they are more accessible than ever.
\n\u201cIt is good for our planet, our health, and our economies. Cleaning our air, meeting the world\u2019s growing energy demand, connecting millions of people to affordable electricity, bringing stability and security to markets, and saving money \u2013 renewable energy has never been cheaper,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
G20 must lead the globe
\nGuterres further underlined the developed countries\u2019 importance in driving positive changes in fight against the climate change.
\n\u201cCurrent 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,\u201d he said, adding that the G20, \u201cwhich represents 80% of the world\u2019s emissions, must lead.\u201d
\n\u201cDeveloped countries must show how they will double adaptation finance to $40 billion a year by 2025 \u2013 as promised \u2013 and clarify how they deliver on the $100 billion \u2013 as promised.\u201d
\nAccording to the UN, COP28 will underline the need \u201cto preserve a livable climate,\u201d while emphasizing that the production of coal, oil, and gas \u201cmust rapidly decline.\u201d
\nAnother key aim is to ramp up the use of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy. The UN wants the capacity of renewables to triple by 2030.
\nFinancing and investments for adaptation and climate resilience \u201cneed a quantum leap,\u201d according to the UN.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISTANBUL The UN chief on Friday warned of the catastrophic effects of climate change, saying that \u201chumanity\u2019s fate hangs in the balance.\u201d \u201cThe climate challenge is not just another issue in your inbox. Protecting our climate is the world\u2019s greatest test of leadership. I urge you to lead,\u201d UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":341456,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-371720","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n