UN chief directs the world leaders to declare ‘climate emergency’ for states

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, while addressing the opening remarks to a climate summit on Saturday iterated that world leaders should take the move to declare states of ‘climate emergency’ in their respective countries to take immediate steps to avert catastrophic global warming.

The summit has over 70 countries in the one-day virtual gathering which focuses on accelerating the momentum for steeper cuts in the planet-warming emissions at the occasion of the fifth anniversary of 2015 Paris climate accord.

In a video, Guterres said, “Can anybody still deny that we are facing a dramatic emergency? That is why today, I call on all leaders worldwide to declare a State of Climate Emergency in their countries until carbon neutrality is reached.”

Guterres further spoke about the economic recovery packages which were introduced in the Coronavirus pandemic, which carves an opportunity to culminate towards low carbon future, but indicated that it would take time.

“So far, the members of the G20 are spending 50% more in their stimulus and rescue packages on sectors linked to fossil fuel production and consumption, than on low-carbon energy,” said Guterres.

He further added, “This is unacceptable. The trillions of dollars needed for Covid recovery is money that we are borrowing from future generations. We cannot use these resources to lock in policies that burden future generations with a mountain of debt on a broken planet.” The co-host of the virtual summit, Britain declared about its pledge on Friday for terminating the direct government support pertaining to overseas fossil fuel projects at the summit.

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