The UN Secretary General has proposed that “big polluters” make additional efforts to reduce emissions and that richer countries support emerging economies in these efforts.
António Guterres told a press conference on Thursday that he was “very concerned about the world’s position on climate. Countries are a long way from meeting their climate promises and commitments.”
The Portuguese regretted seeing “lack of ambition, trust, support, cooperation. And many questions about clarity and credibility. The climate agenda is being undermined.”
The UN Secretary General reiterated that current policies will take the planet to a rise of 2.8 degrees average temperature by the end of the century and that, to avoid it, it will be necessary to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030.
Guterres asked developed countries “to reach zero emissions as soon as possible” and recalled that there are already rich nations announcing this goal for 2035: “I am not asking for the impossible.”
As for developing countries, the official called for a reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, a target set by “several large emerging economies” such as Vietnam.
The UN Secretary General also proposed to the multilateral development banks that adapt business models so that emerging countries can “massively increase” investment in renewable energy.
Both countries and companies must commit themselves, in accordance with the UN plan, not to use the carvão, to end the financing of carvão projects and not to issue new licenses for electricity generation projects using oil or gas natural.
Guterres argued that the fossil fuel industry has a “special responsibility”after having “record revenues of four billion dollars” (3,600 million euros) in 2022.
“However, for every dollar spent on oil and gas exploration and drilling, only four cents goes to clean energy. Trading the future for 30 pieces of silver is immoral,” he warned.
“It is time to accelerate the just transition to a green economy. It is still possible to limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius”, stressed the Secretary General of the United Nations.
Source: Observadora
