The UN has warned that the world must not cross the “red line,” which would raise global temperatures above the 1.5-degree limit.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, stated earlier on Sunday during the closing plenary of the global climate summit that if the world is to have any chance of staying within the 1.5 degree temperature limit, it must “massively invest in renewables and end addiction to fossil fuels.”
The decision to create a loss and damage fund and the UN’s willingness to support it were both warmly received by Mr. Guterres.
But he pointed out that it is insufficient.
“Clearly this will not be enough, but it is a much-needed political signal to rebuild broken trust,” he said.
According to the conference’s decision, donors will make contributions to a global fund to protect lives and livelihoods from climate change-related disasters under the new loss and damage finance scheme.
A fund for loss and damage is necessary but is insufficient if the climate crisis wipes out a small island state or turns an entire African nation into a desert, according to Mr. Guterres, who also noted that “our planet is still in the emergency room, we need to drastically reduce emission now and this is an issue this COP did not address.”
In addition, he added, the world must prevent a race for energy in which developing nations come in last, similar to the race for COVID-19 vaccines.
Doubling down on fossil fuels, Mr Guterres said it is “double trouble” and that just energy transition partnerships are important for accelerating the phasing out of coal and scaling up renewables.
“But we need much more,” he said as he reiterated the importance of a climate solidarity pact which he talked about in his opening remarks two weeks ago.
“A pact in which all countries make an extra effort to reduce emissions this decade in line with the 1.5-degree goal, a Pact to mobilise, together with international financial institutions and the private sector, financial and technical support for large emerging economies to accelerate their renewable energy transition,” he explained, underscoring that this is essential to keep the 1.5-degree limit within reach.
There is “much homework and little time” left before the deadline of 2030, Mr. Guterres noted, adding that the world had already reached halfway between the 2015 Paris Agreement and that point.
“We need all hands on deck to drive justice and ambition,” he said. This ambition includes stopping the suicide war on nature which is fuelling the climate crisis.
He commended members of civil society organisations who were visibly vocal at the conference with different demands and “keeping the agenda moving through the darkest days.”
He called for the protection of young people, “to all of them, I say we share your frustrations but we need you now more than ever.”
“Justice and ambition require the essential voice of civil society. The most vital energy source in the world is people’s power, that is why it is so important to understand the human rights dimension of climate action,” he said.
He urged all not to relent in the fight for climate justice and climate ambition, saying: “we can and must win this battle for our lives.”
