Recent heatwaves and wildfires across the world are indicative of humanity facing a “collective suicide”, the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, has said.
Speaking this week at the Petersburg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, the UN chief warned: “Half of humanity is in the danger zone, from floods, droughts, extreme storms and wildfires. No nation is immune. Yet we continue to feed our fossil fuel addiction.
“We have a choice. Collective action or collective suicide. It is in our hands.”
Guterres also hit out at institutions which he called “multilateral development banks” including the World Bank, for not providing the investment and assistance needed for poorer, developing countries to roll-out renewable energy and go green.
He said: “As shareholders of multilateral development banks, developed countries must demand immediate delivery of the investments and assistance needed to expand renewable energy and build climate-resilience in developing countries.
“Demand that these banks become fit-for-purpose. Demand that they change their tired frameworks and policies to take more risk. Let’s show developing countries that they can rely on their partners.”
Guterres’ warnings came as extreme heat warnings were issued in the UK early in the week with highs of over 40°C forecast.
Elsewhere across the globe, wildfires have struck again in Europe and North America, while severe heatwaves have hit parts of India and southern Asia and droughts have affected African regions.
The two-day Petersburg Climate Dialogue saw ministers from over 40 different countries come together to address the climate emergency.
In November, the world will come together again to address the climate crisis in Egypt for the COP27 summit.
Following COP26 in Glasgow last November, countries agreed to limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, but the climate commitments made at the time fell short of being able to achieve that target.
Nations agreed to convene again this year with more ambitious plans to bring down carbon emissions in the form of nationally determined contributions [NDCs], but an agreement on these has not yet been forthcoming.
Furthermore, recent developments including soaring inflation, the challenges of Covid-19 recovery and the need to shore up energy security following the war in Ukraine, have all dampened the prospects of a comprehensive climate deal being agreed.
EU Commission vice-president, Frans Timmermans, told the Guardian that he didn’t see any new and radical NDC agreements being struck in the near future.
He said: “I don’t see that many new NDCs are on the horizon, frankly.”
Photo by Oleksandr Sushko on Unsplash
