- António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has called for an end to fossil fuel subsidies worldwide, which exceeded $7 trillion in 2022, according to an IMF analysis.
- Guterres made these remarks in a speech during the Climate Ambition Summit at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday.
- If nothing changes, the world is on track to warm by 2.8 degrees Celsius, or more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Guterres.
Secretary-General António Guterres comments on Russia’s cancellation of the Black Sea initiative to deliver grains and fertilizers to the global market during Security Council observation at UN headquarters.
Lev Radin | Rocket Lite | Getty Images
“Humanity has opened the gates of hell. Extreme heat has horrific effects.”
So he said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United NationsIn his opening remarks, L Climate Ambition Summit at UN Headquarters In New York on Wednesday.
At the summit, Guterres outlined a program he called the “acceleration agenda” to close the gap between what is currently happening to address climate change and what he believes needs to happen — including ending fossil fuel subsidies around the world, which have exceeded $7. trillion in 2022, According to an analysis by the International Monetary Fund.
Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which is the main driver of climate change.
“We must make up for the time lost in procrastination, arm-twisting, and the naked greed of vested interests who make billions from fossil fuels,” Guterres said.
Globally, there was An unprecedented amount of investment in clean energy sourcesThis is encouraging, “but we are decades behind,” Guterres said, calling on developed countries to reach net zero emissions as soon as possible by 2040, and for emerging economies, by 2050.
Specifically, Guterres said OECD countries need plans to stop burning coal by 2030, and the rest of the world needs to stop burning coal by 2040.
“If nothing changes, we are heading toward a temperature rise of 2.8 degrees — toward a dangerous and unstable world,” Guterres said, speaking of 2.8 degrees Celsius, or more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
He also called for Setting a price on carbon Companies and financial institutions must fulfill their climate pledges.
“The future is not fixed,” he said. “It’s up to leaders like you to write. We can still limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. We can still build a world with clean air, green jobs, and affordable clean energy for all.”
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