Guterres calls on all countries of the world to declare a climate emergency

The United Nations Secretary-General called on all nations of the world on Saturday to follow in the footsteps of the 38 countries that have already done so and declare a State of Climate Emergency until carbon neutrality is achieved. 
During the Summit on Climate Ambition, which coincides with the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, António Guterres explained that after five years of achieving the treaty we are not going in the right direction because its commitments are not being met and "carbon dioxide levels are at record levels.

In an event organized jointly by the United Nations, the United Kingdom, France and in collaboration with Chile and Italy, the UN head stressed that the recovery tasks of COVID-19 are an opportunity to put economies and societies on "a green path in accordance with the Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030.
A path that, in his opinion, is not being taken since the members of the G-20 are spending 50% more on their stimulus and rescue packages in sectors linked to the production and consumption of fossil fuels, than on low-carbon energy.

"This is unacceptable. The trillions of dollars needed for the recovery of COVID-19 are money we are borrowing from future generations. This is a moral test. We cannot use these resources to set policies that burden future generations with a mountain of debt on a broken planet," he said.
That's why he said the organization's central goal is to build a "Global Carbon Neutral Coalition" by mid-century and that to achieve this significant reductions are needed immediately in order to reduce global emissions by 45% by 2030 relative to 2010 levels.
As an example of immediate climate action he cited the examples of the United Kingdom and the European Union who have committed to reduce their emissions by 68% and 55% respectively by 2030 compared to 1990.

He recalled that not only countries but also cities, financial institutions and businesses must establish plans to reach a level of zero net emissions by 2050. Along with them, other key sectors such as maritime transport, aviation and industry must also present and implement new roadmaps in accordance with this objective.
"Technology is on our side. (...) Renewable energy is getting cheaper every day. Climate action can be the catalyst for millions of new jobs, better health and resilient infrastructure. But let us remember that this transition must be just, and recognize that women's leadership is good for climate action," she said.

The moment of truth for achieving carbon neutrality has arrived

At the same time, he stressed that the time has come to fix the cost of carbon emissions and to "phase out fossil fuel financing and end fossil fuel subsidies," along with preventing the construction of new coal-fired power plants.
"To shift the tax burden from revenues to carbon, from taxpayers to polluters. To make disclosure of climate-related financial risks mandatory. And to integrate the goal of carbon neutrality into all economic and fiscal policies and decisions," he explained.

Guterres said these goals must be supported by a variety of actors, such as private financial sector support for companies to transform their business models, or assistance from international financial institutions and national development banks to mobilize the private financing and investment needed by developing countries.
"And developed countries must meet their commitment to provide $100 billion a year to developing countries by 2020.
We are not there yet. Our collective goal must be to surpass the $100 billion a year target by 2021 and increase international public finance in the period thereafter," he said.

The Secretary-General concluded his address by saying that the moment of truth has arrived, but also that of hope when more and more countries are committing to carbon neutrality, cities are striving to become greener and more liveable, and young people are demanding accountability from leaders.
"Climate action is the barometer of leadership in today's world. It is what people and the planet need right now. We have the plan: the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. But we all need to pass a credibility test: let's turn the promise of a world without polluting emissions into reality," he concluded. 

Chile: we must reduce emissions and increase adaptation efforts

For his part, the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, highlighted that the threat posed by global warming is "real, serious and it is now" and that both science and youth "demand a change of course as a moral imperative", which is why it is necessary to recover the balance between "human life and nature on planet Earth" since our survival depends on it.
Piñera indicated that climate change is the greatest challenge facing our generation and that the Paris Agreement demonstrates that when there is political will, "multilateralism, collaboration among countries is a powerful instrument for advancing toward inclusive and sustainable development, which is the only development possible in these times.

The Chilean president indicated that an ambitious approach to this issue does not only consist of reducing polluting emissions, but also of increasing efforts to adapt to the consequences of climate change.
He added that the contributions determined at the national level presented by Chile last April, that is, the commitments assumed by the countries for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change, were "more ambitious and based on science.

"Our commitment includes a peak in emissions no later than 2025 and is based on concrete measures such as the closure of all coal-fired power plants, such as the electrification of our entire public transportation system by 2040, and also includes a huge effort to reforest and protect our forests and protect our oceans. This commitment is embodied in the fact that 30% of our land and seas will be under protection," he said.

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The Climate Ambition Summit ends with ambitious commitments and specific plans

The virtual meeting held this Saturday provides concrete projects and new commitments by 75 countries, companies, sectors and cities that bring them a little closer to the objectives of the Paris Agreement and, at the same time, highlight the work that still needs to be done.
A significant number of world leaders committed to the climate objectives managed to take a big step towards a future of zero net carbon emissions this Saturday, by presenting new ambitious commitments, urgent measures and concrete plans to address the climate crisis.

The Climate Ambition Summit, convened by the United Nations, the United Kingdom and France, in partnership with Italy and Chile as part of the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, was a major milestone on the road to the crucial United Nations climate conference, COP-26, to be held in the Scottish city of Glasgow next November.
Seventy-five leaders from nations including all continents of the world outlined a series of new commitments during the Summit, giving a clear signal that the Paris Accord serves to rapidly increase both climate action and ambitions.

Despite the multiple challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Summit demonstrated that climate change and its multiple evidences around the globe are high on the agenda of the global community.
Although there is still a long way to go to keep the global temperature rise to 1.5°C, the Summit demonstrated the increase in climate ambition.
The announcements made before and during the event, along with those planned for early 2021, mean that a number of countries representing about 65% of global CO2 emissions and about 70% of the world economy, have committed to achieving zero net emissions or carbon neutrality by early next year.

These commitments must now be backed up with concrete plans and actions, and today's Summit has given a boost to progress on this front.

Countries that strengthened their climate commitments towards COP 26
- Seventy-one countries submitted enhanced climate plans, including all EU Member States.
- Among the countries that committed to greater National Determined Contributions, that is, the commitments made by countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, are Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Colombia, Iceland and Peru.
- Pakistan announced plans to stop manufacturing new coal-fired power plants.
- India will soon more than double its renewable energy target.
- China committed to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to about 25% by 2030.