‘We have no time to lose’: UN Chief Antonio Guterres urges G20 to keep ‘1.5 degree goal’ alive
United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres urged that G20 countries should show leadership by keeping the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal alive, rebuilding trust based on climate justice, and advancing a just and equitable transition through a green economy. “G20 countries responsible for 80 percent emissions, must take the lead in reducing it, said the UN chief, while addressing media in New Delhi, on the eve of the G20 Summit.
At the Paris climate talks in 2015, countries agreed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius as compared to pre-industrial levels (1850-1900) to avoid extreme, destructive, and likely irreversible effects of climate change. “We have no time to lose, challenges stretch as far as I can see. The climate crisis is worsening dramatically but the collective response is lacking in ambition, credibility, and urgency,” said Guterres.
He urged the G20 countries — responsible for 85 percent of the world’s GDP and 80 percent of the emissions — to demonstrate leadership in two priority areas: preventing a climate breakdown and saving the sustainable development goals. “The climate crisis is spiralling out of control, but G20 countries are in control. Together, G20 countries are responsible for 80 percent of global emissions. Half measures will not prevent full climate breakdown,” he said.
Guterres urged the G20 leaders to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal alive, rebuild trust based on climate justice, and advance a just and equitable transition through a green economy. He urged big emitters to make extra efforts to cut emissions and support emerging economies to achieve these. He said developed countries should reach net zero by 2040 and emerging economies by 2050. OECD countries should phase out coal by 2030 and the others by 2040, he added.
The UN chief said the developed countries within the G20 should show leadership by delivering on commitments to developing countries, meeting the USD 100 billion goals, doubling adaptation finance, replenishing the Green Climate Fund, and operationalizing the loss and damage fund created in the last Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Responding to questions, Guterres said he is not very hopeful that there will be a peace solution in the immediate future for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He added that the two countries still do not appear to be ending the conflict. Asked whether India could mediate to end the war, he said, “When you have a conflict, all efforts of mediation are welcome…. (But) I am not very hopeful that we will have a peace solution in the immediate future.”
On the need for reforms to multilateral institutions, Guterres said when these multilateral institutions were created, many of the countries of today did not even exist. “This is true for the UNSC and many others,” he said. Asked whether it was time for India to become a member of the UNSC, Guterres said, “It is not for me to decide who would be in the UNSC, it is for the members (to decide).”
“But it is obvious that India is today the country of the world with the largest population and it is a very important partner in the multilateral system. All I can say is that I believe that we need reforms in the multilateral system to reflect today’s world,” he added. Asked whether there should be a timeline for reforms to the multilateral institutions, Guterres said, “There is a need to do it, but I am not sure if we get it. But I think it is urgent.”
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