NEW DELHI (AP) 鈥 U.N. Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres on Friday urged the Group of 20 top economic powers, which are responsible for more than 80% of the emissions that cause global warming, to use their weekend summit to send a strong message on climate change.
Guterres said all licensing or funding for new fossil fuel projects should be stopped and that the G20 must keep the 鈥1.5-degree goal alive,鈥 referring to that set 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) as a global guardrail in atmospheric warming, with countries pledging to try to prevent that much long-term warming if possible.
Earlier this year, the U.N. weather agency had said that there鈥檚 a chance that the world will temporarily hit a key warming limit within the next five years.
July 2023 was Earth鈥檚 on record by a wide margin.
Climate ministers of the G20 nations ended their for the year in July without resolving major disagreements on climate policies.
鈥淭he climate crisis is worsening dramatically 鈥 but the collective response is lacking in ambition, credibility, and urgency,鈥 Guterres said at a news conference at the U.N. office in New Delhi.
include efforts to develop alternative fuels like hydrogen, resource efficiency and reforming development banks like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to help make funds more accessible for lower- and middle-income countries as they seek solutions to combat climate change.
Guterres called on big emitters to make additional efforts to cut emissions and rich countries to meet the climate finance commitments made already.
鈥淚f we are indeed one global family,鈥 the U.N. chief said, referring to India鈥檚 theme for the meetings, 鈥漺e today resemble a rather dysfunctional one.鈥
As leaders gathered for the weekend summit, threatened to , with its effect on food and energy security along with other global implications.
Guterres said with the problems facing the world, now was the time for countries to work together, saying 鈥渨e have no time to lose.鈥
鈥淒ivisions are growing, tensions are flaring up, and trust is eroding 鈥 which together raise the specter of fragmentation, and ultimately, confrontation,鈥 he said.
鈥淭his fracturing would be deeply concerning in the best of times, but in our times, it spells catastrophe.鈥
On Friday, the United Nations also released a technical report that assesses where various countries stand in their efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
The report said that global emissions aren't in line with climate goals and that 鈥渢here is a rapidly narrowing window to raise ambition and implement existing commitments in order to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels.鈥
Guterres asked nations that are part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to aim to reach net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2040 and for emerging economies to reach the same goal by 2050.
Energy analysts say its crucial that G20 leaders act on the U.N. chief's suggestions.
鈥淧hasing fossil fuels out is going to be a crucial, messy, and unavoidable fight. But it鈥檚 one that leaders need to have. And have it now,鈥 said Madhura Joshi, energy analyst at the climate think tank E3G.
Joshi who has been closely following the climate policy discussions at the G20 gatherings added, 鈥淚n the midst of raging climate impacts, the world needs G20 leaders to move beyond their differences and agree to an ambitious and equitable agenda of action this decade.鈥
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