BusinessGreen
Politics
UN secretary general: 'Climate change the most systemic threat to humankind'
James Murray
James Murray
@James_BG
03 April 2018
Tweet
Facebook
LinkedIn
Send to
Print this page
0 Comments
António Guterres admits he is "beginning to wonder how many more alarm bells must go off before the world rises to the challenge"
UN secretary general António Guterres last week offered a bleak assessment of escalating climate risks, warning the "tsunami" of recent climate change data should spark a "storm of concern".
"The headlines are naturally dominated by the escalation of tensions and conflicts, or high-level political events," he said at a press conference in New York late last week. "But the truth is that the most systemic threat to humankind remains climate change and I believe it is my duty to remind it to the whole of the international community."
Guterres pointed to a recent raft of concerning updates on climate impacts and efforts to curb emissions, warning the "world reached several dire milestones in 2017".
"The economic costs of climate-related disasters hit a record: $320bn," he said. "Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose 1.4 per cent, to 32.5 gigatonnes - a historic high. In 2017, the hurricane season in the Caribbean was the costliest ever, un-doing decades of development in an instant. In South Asia, major monsoon floods affected 41 million people. In Africa, severe drought drove nearly 900,000 people from their homes. Wildfires caused destruction across the world. And Arctic sea [ice] recorded its lowest winter maximum ever."
Related articles
UK reverses opposition to tough EU recycling targets
Shell threatened with legal action over climate change contributions
Costa Rica president-elect promises to lead the country towards an oil-free future
State lawmakers hit back at EPA moves to relax car emission standards
Unilever reveals plan for closed loop plastic food-grade packaging
However, he warned governments were still failing to deliver the ambitious reforms required to reduce climate risks and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
"I am beginning to wonder how many more alarm bells must go off before the world rises to the challenge," he said. "We know it can be hard to address problems perceived to be years or decades away. But climate impacts are already upon us."
He added the UN was struggling to mobilise the $100bn a year of climate finance from 2020 that was promised under the Paris treaty, and argued that while "technology is on our side" enormous subsidies for fossil fuels continue to hinder the low carbon transition.
Guterres is planning to host a UN Summit next year to crank up pressure on governments to strengthen the pledges they have made to curb emissions under the Paris Agreement before 2020. He said he would "continue to call on world leaders to focus on bending the emissions curve and closing the emissions gap".
"Climate change is still moving faster, much faster than we are," he said. "What the world needs is a race to the top - with political will, innovation, financing and partnerships. And I remain convinced we have what it takes to prevail."
Asked if he held out any hopes that he could re-engage the US administration with the Paris Agreement, nearly a year after President Trump said the government would quit the accord.
"Of course, it is necessary to permanently engage all those that are doubtful about climate change," Guterres said. "But I would like to underline that, in the US society, we have seen in the business community; we have seen in the cities, and we have seen in many states a very strong commitment to the Paris Agreement, to the extent that some indicators are moving even better than in the recent past. And I had the occasion to receive that information by my Special Envoy on climate change, Michael Bloomberg, that there are expectations that, independently of the position of the administration, the US might be able to meet the commitments made in Paris as a country."
He added that more broadly businesses and investors had a critical role to play in delivering on the goals of the Paris Agreement. "All around the world, the role of governments is less and less relevant," he said. "The role of the economy, the role of the society is more and more relevant. And I have to say I'm encouraged by the very positive reactions of the American business community and the American local and regional authorities."
Guterres also revealed he had talked to the government of Bangladesh about steps to protect Rohingya refugees who have entered the country in recent months from flood risks.
"We believe that about 150,000 people are in areas that are flood‑prone or can be negatively impacted by the monsoon in a dangerous way for the people, and I had the opportunity to discuss with the Government of Bangladesh the best way to relocate these people," he said. "And I think the best way to relocate these people is in higher areas."
Guterres' intervention came as a new study raised fears that Antarctic ice melt is proceeding faster than previously thought.
A new study by the UK Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling at the University of Leeds published in Nature Geoscience warned hidden underwater melt-off is doubling every 20 years.
It raises the prospect of Antarctic ice sheets replacing Greenland as the biggest source of sea-level rise - a scenario that could lead to an upgrade in projections for future increases in sea level, which experts already fear could rise between one and two metres this century.
Tweet
Facebook
LinkedIn
Send to
Print this page
Topics Politics Policy Paris Agreement United Nations
More news
UK reverses opposition to tough EU recycling targets
Ministers will now back a target of 65 per cent by 2035, meaning ambitious rhetoric is being supported by firm action, say experts
Legislation
04 April 2018
Shell threatened with legal action over climate change contributions
Friends of the Earth demands the oil firm move away from fossil fuels to comply with Paris deal
Legislation
04 April 2018
Green Lunch with… The Climate Group's Helen Clarkson
BusinessGreen catches up with the CEO of The Climate Group over tapas at Covent Garden's Opera Tavern
Climate change
04 April 2018
Credit: Facebook/ Carlos Alvarado Quesada
Costa Rica president-elect promises to lead the country towards an oil-free future
Carlos Alvarado Quesada is promising to replace petrol and diesel in the transport system with clean energy, comparing the task to abolishing the army
Politics
04 April 2018
Back to Top
Most read
UK reverses opposition to tough EU recycling targets
Shell threatened with legal action over climate change contributions
Green Lunch with… The Climate Group's Helen Clarkson
Credit: Facebook/ Carlos Alvarado Quesada
Costa Rica president-elect promises to lead the country towards an oil-free future
trafficjam
State lawmakers hit back at EPA moves to relax car emission standards
Contact Us Marketing solutions About Incisive Media Terms and conditions Privacy and Cookie policy
RSS
Twitter
LinkedIn
Newsletters
Facebook
© Incisive Business Media (IP) Limited, Published by Incisive Business Media Limited, New London House, 172 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5QR, registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 09177174 & 09178013
Digital publisher of the year
Digital publisher of the year 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2017
We use cookies so that we can improve your experience of our site. Read our privacy and cookies policy to find out more.
Accept
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment