UN warns world is heading for ‘catastrophe’ due to global warming

The world is on a “catastrophic” trajectory that will lead to an average temperature rise of 2.7 ° C by the end of the century., warned UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday.

The the international community is committed to fighting greenhouse gas emissionsBut these promises “go in the wrong direction,” says a UN report. Consequently, “The world is on a catastrophic path”Guterres warned.

“Although there is a clear trend to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over time, countries urgently need to redouble their efforts”Asked the report of the UN body on climate change.

The document is an assessment of the commitments of the 191 signatory countries of the 2015 Paris Agreement fight against climate change. The picture of the set is “disturbing”, points to the text.

From all countriesOnly 113, representing 49% of GHG emissions, have updated their national commitments to July 30, as stipulated within the agreed timeframe.

The report predicts that the emissions of this group, which includes the United States and the European Union, “decrease by 12% in 2030 compared to 2010”.

“A light of hopeIn the words of the head of the UN program, Patricia Espinosa.

Corn contributions from all 191 countries “imply a significant increase in global GHG emissions in 2030 compared to 2010 of around 16%”, Add.

China or Russia have not updated their emission reduction commitments, criticizes an NGO that analyzed the UN report, Climate action monitoring.

According to the group of climate experts (IPCC) cited by the UN, This increase in emissions, “unless immediate action is taken, could lead to a temperature rise of about 2.7 ºC by the end of the century”.

“This means break the promise made six years ago, to aim for a target of +1.5 ºC, ”recalled Guterres. “Failure to achieve this goal will result in massive loss of life,” he added.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the agenda and commitments of all countries. And sowed confusion over the experts’ own conclusions, which ensured after the first wave of restrictions, which affected billions of people, that GHG emissions had been reduced.

The promises of rich countries

“We need to all nations raise their shoulders “, asked Espinosa, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (CMUNCC), during a press conference.

And the developing countries need help and urgently Espinosa insisted.

“We must act, all of us, we must act now”US President Joe Biden said at the start of a virtual summit with nine foreign leaders. “For those who haven’t, time is running out,” he added, asking for a A “higher” ambition.

For their part, the leaders of nine southern European Union countries (Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain) committed to the Paris objectives this Friday at a summit in Athens, to “create a secure, prosperous, just and sustainable future for our societies”, according to a joint declaration.

Rich countries pledged in 2009 to pay $ 100 billion a year by 2020 developing countries to adapt to the impact of climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

This The broken promise is the subject of recurring criticism from poor countries, the first victims of the impact of global warming, and threatens to be a controversial issue at the next United Nations Climate Conference (COP26), in Glasgow, in November.

Among In 2018 and 2019, “climate finance” for developed countries, to help the poorest, only increased by 2%, up to a total of $ 79.600 million, informed the club of industrialized countries (OECD) on Friday.

If this trend continues, it means that There was a shortfall of $ 20 billion in 2020.

By regions, Asia took 43% of the funding, followed by Africa, with 26%, while America latin and caribbean he placed third, with 17%.

“Now is the time to keep the promises and COP26 is the perfect place to do it,” Espinosa urged. “We can change the course of history for the better», Asked the new president of COP26, Alok Sharma.

(Jordi Zamora – AFP)

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