COP27, is set to bring together countries to discuss tackling climate change, based on last year at COP26, in Glasgow, governments pledged to cut back or stop using fossil fuels, end deforestation, and provide money to developing countries facing the worst of climate change.
Secretary-General António Guterres speaking in New York ahead of a major climate conference in Egypt, urged that current global problems such as inflation, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the high prices of energy and food were distracting governments.
“There has been a tendency to put climate change on the back burner,” he said. “If we are not able to reverse the present trend, we will be doomed. This is the defining issue of our time, nobody has the right to sacrifice international action on climate change for any reason,” he warned.
Calling on the US and China to work together at the conference, saying the world relies on their leadership. In August, China said it was ending cooperation with the US on climate change after a leading US politician visited Taiwan.
“We need to tell the truth. The truth is that the impact of climate change on a number of countries in the world, especially hotspots, is already devastating, bring back climate change to the center of the international debate,” he urged.
Governments must deliver the $100billion of finance promised to developing countries facing the harshest impacts of climate change, Mr. Guterres insists.
Emphasizes the need for cutting down the use of fossil fuels, since Atmospheric levels of the three main greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – reached record highs in 2021, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) found.
It also said concentrations of the powerful gas methane jumped by the highest amount in 40 years, mystifying experts.
The COP27 conference will see global leaders meet in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt from 6-18 November to discuss what progress has been made on meeting climate goals.