The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, appeared this Saturday in Cape Verde, frustrated by the the world is “losing” the fight against climate change and condemning countries to a “death penalty”.
“I am deeply frustrated that world leaders are not providing this emergency, a life and death emergency, with the necessary action and investment. We are facing the fight of our lives and unfortunately we are losing it”, said António Guterres, in statements after meeting in Mindelo, São Vicente island, with the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Ulisses Correia e Silva.
“Emissions continue to rise, temperatures continue to rise, we are about to exceed the 1.5 degree limit and if nothing is done along the way, towards 2.8 degrees of global warming by the end of the century. It would be a catastrophe with devastating consequences. Various parts of our planet would be uninhabitable, particularly in Africa, and for many it would be a death sentence,” he emphasized.
For the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the time is “more solidarity” and “greater sense of urgency and more ambition”.
“And we need justice for those, like Cabo Verde, who did virtually nothing to cause this crisis, but are paying a heavy price for it. Cape Verde has shown climate leadership in words and actions,” he noted.
António Guterres began a three-day visit to Cape Verde this Saturday, within the framework of the Ocean Race, the largest regatta in the world that from January 20 to 25 stops at the Cape Verdean island of São Vicente, participating on Monday, also in Mindelo, at the Ocean Summit.
This Saturday, after the meeting with the head of the Cape Verdean Government, António Guterres participates in the “Speaker Series” event, with the Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva.
Source: Observadora
