UN Climate Chief says we have ‘two years to save the world’
He's explained the fastest way to bring about climate action.
The 2024 doomsday clock remains alarmingly unchanged from last year at a minute and a half away from midnight.
Described by scientists as 'a time of unprecedented danger', we are 90 seconds away from an apocalyptic point-of-no-return, one of the major concerns being climate change.
Time is running out to make a difference and change our planet Earth for the better.
Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, gave a speech titled 'Two Years to Save the World', urgently emphasising that we are running out of time to take action on climate change.
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Governments, development banks and business leaders must take steps to mitigate the more serious impacts of the climate crisis within that time frame, a Reuters report found.
'For those who say that climate change is only one of many priorities, like ending poverty, ending hunger, ending pandemics, or improving education, I simply say this: none of these crucial tasks — indeed none of the Sustainable Development Goals — will be possible unless we get the climate crisis under control,' Stiell said.
He argued that current national climate plans called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as a whole will 'barely cut emissions at all by 2030.'
'We still have a chance to make greenhouse gas emissions tumble, with a new generation of national climate plans. But we need these stronger plans, now.'
Stiell shares his stats and actionable goals on X, pleading for a 'quantum leap in climate finance' and a worldwide implementation of climate plans.
'And while every country must submit a new plan, the reality is G20 emissions are around 80% of global emissions,' the politician pointed out.
A 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is essential to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels, according to the UN. However, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service has reported record-high global temperatures for 10 consecutive months.
Stiell explained the transformative policies that are driving change in gender equality are exactly what's needed for climate action and the 'fastest way' to 'move away from business as usual.'
'In fact, business-as-usual will further entrench the gross inequalities between the world’s richest and poorest countries and communities that unchecked climate impacts are making much worse,' the Grenadian politician added.
'To start curing this global cancer of inequality, we need to enable bold new national climate plans by all nations that protect people, boost jobs and drive inclusive economic growth. And we need them by early next year.'