The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, announced the holding of the “Climate Ambition” summit, next September, a few months before the date of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change “COP 28”, to be held in the United Arab Emirates, during the month of November. 2023.
And the most senior UN official considered, in a press conference, on the occasion of the end of 2022, that the main goal of the Paris Agreement, which was agreed upon by the countries of the world in 2015, is to avoid a rise in global temperature by more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, “gasping for breath.”
A 1.5 degree fight going in the wrong direction
He said that despite the pledges made by the (COP27) conference in Sharm el-Sheikh last November, it is clear that the battle to limit emissions to an increase of only 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels is still “moving in the wrong direction.” In light of the widening global emissions gap.
In a statement, the Secretary-General called for work to reach “practical solutions” to confront the repercussions of climate change, and to bring about a tangible change in human lives. .
The widening global emissions gap
Guterres referred to the action plan he launched earlier this year, which aims to cover all people around the world with early warning systems, within 5 years, in an effort to reduce the risks of disasters related to the environment, especially those resulting from climate change.
In this regard, the Secretary-General said he will continue to press for a “Climate Solidarity Pact”, whereby all major emitters make an extra effort to reduce emissions this decade, in line with the 1.5-degree target, and ensure support for those who need it. .
Make a peace treaty with nature
Guterres welcomed the new global framework for biodiversity, which was approved at the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in Montreal, Canada, and concluded its work last Monday, and said in his remarks to reporters at the United Nations headquarters: “We have finally begun to conclude a pact of peace with nature.”
The Secretary-General also touched on the escalating crises as a result of many conflicts around the world, foremost of which is the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the raging conflict in Yemen, as well as the armed conflicts in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, considering that the innocent people pay the greatest price for these conflicts.
