The Secretary-General of the United Nations urged world leaders to take faster action after the year 2024 witnessed what he called “advanced lessons in climate destruction,” adding that limiting global warming is still possible but difficult.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres told world leaders and those attending COP29 that the world is in the “final countdown” to its chance to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
He added: “Time is not on our side.” “Exhibit A: 2024. With the hottest day on record and the hottest month on record, this year will almost certainly be the hottest year on record, and a fascinating lesson in climate destruction.”
Guterres went on to cite recent hurricanes that led to evacuations, flooding in various communities and the impact of extreme heat on workers as examples of disasters that have been “supercharged” by climate change.
The European Union climate agency said last week that it expects 2024 to be the hottest year on record.
Guterres noted that these impacts come with impacts on the global economy, with destroyed homes leading to higher insurance premiums and supply chain “shocks” leading to higher costs.
While he tried to stress the importance of action to leaders at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), officials from some of the countries considered the biggest polluters were not present.
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Neither China nor the United States – the largest polluters and most powerful economies – sent their president, nor did India or Indonesia, the four most populous countries in the world.
Some American officials expect that President-elect Donald Trump will withdraw the country from the Paris Agreement for the second time after doing so in 2020, as he promised during his election campaign. He also described emissions regulations as part of a “new green scam.”
Without mentioning his name, Guterres appeared to dismiss Trump’s threat, saying doubling dependence on fossil fuels was “ridiculous.”
“The clean energy revolution is here,” he said. “No group, company or government can stop it.”
Climate finance, in which rich countries compensate poor countries for damage caused by climate change, is a main focus of the climate summit.
During a press conference on Tuesday, officials at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) said that an agreement had been reached on up to US$1 trillion in annual climate financing for developing countries.
Guterres warned that the money “is not charity, it is an investment,” and urged countries to “pay up” so that no one is left “empty-handed.”
But many countries with different economies have seen an impact from climate change, including Canada.
Canada sees costly impacts: report
Canadian Climate Institute Reported in September that the country Financial losses from floods in Toronto in July and wildfires that devastated Jasper, Alta., have seen them reach $1.8 billion — and that includes only insured losses.
The organization warned that such events indicate the need for faster action on climate change to limit the damage.
However, this action must take place now, and Guterres stressed the need to focus on three priorities, the first of which is to quickly reduce emissions.
To limit the rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, global emissions must be reduced by 9 percent annually and must fall by 43 percent below 2019 levels by 2030, he said.
“Unfortunately, they are still growing at the present time,” he said.
Canada’s federal environment commissioner confirmed last week in a report that the country is not on track to meet its obligations in the Paris Climate Agreement.
Ottawa promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, but so far they have fallen by seven per cent below 2005 levels.
— With files from The Associated Press and Reuters
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