Climate change measures can't be stopped by the UN Secretary-General

This month, the UN Secretary General Guterres posted an article in the Asahi Shimbun article titled "Climate change measures cannot be stopped." He called for the event and pointed out that the climate action summit held in New York last month “shocked the world and accelerated a wide range of actions (with climate change measures)”. After saying that many people and organizations, such as young people, the United Nations, business, government, and civil society leaders, are beginning to take action, “more people need to take action to succeed” etc. Is appealing.

This article was sent to participating media as part of "Covering Climate Now", an effort to strengthen the coverage of climate change with the participation of more than 300 media worldwide.

The full text of “Climate Change Measures Cannot Be Stopped” is as follows

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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

Just before the UN Climate Action Summit in September, millions of young people from all over the world went out on the streets and appealed to their leaders. “You are abandoning us.” They are right.

Global greenhouse gas emissions are increasing. The temperature is rising. Sea and forests, weather patterns, biodiversity, food production, water, employment, and ultimately life are imminent. And it will only get worse.

Science cannot be denied. Many places don't need charts to know the climate crisis. Just look out the window.

Climate chaos has spread from California to the Caribbean islands, from Africa to the Arctic, and beyond. The person who is far from the cause of this problem suffers the most.

I have seen with this eye Mozambique, which was damaged by a cyclone, the Bahamas destroyed by a hurricane, and the South Pacific, which is facing sea level rise.

The world started to move together

I called on the summit to get the right path ahead of the 2020 deadline set by the Paris Agreement. And many leaders in each country and industry raised measures.

A wide range of alliances, not only governments and youth, but also businesses, cities, investors, civil society, etc. have moved together to avoid a catastrophic climate.

Although there are still large emissions countries, more than 70 countries have promised zero real emissions by 50 years. More than 100 cities, including several large cities, were also in sync. At least 70 countries have announced that they will build national targets under the Paris Agreement by 20 years.

A small island country promised to achieve 100% renewable energy by achieving carbon neutral (plus or minus carbon dioxide emissions and absorption) by 30 years.

He vowed to plant more than 11 billion trees, including Pakistan, Guatemala, Colombia, Nigeria, New Zealand and Barbados.

More than 100 private business leaders promised to accelerate the transition to a green economy.

The world's largest investor group, running more than $ 2 trillion, has promised an asset mix that will be carbon neutral by 50 years.

In addition, nearly half of the world's investment assets managers, about $ 34 trillion, give the world leaders a meaningful price for carbon emissions and quit fossil fuel subsidies and coal-fired power plants. I ask you to.

The International Development Finance Club (IDFC) has promised to invest $ 1 trillion by 25 in clean energy development in 20 developing countries.

A third of the world's banks have signed up to do business in line with the Paris Agreement goals and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

There is no place to hide the large emission countries

The summit became a place where global industries, such as cities and transportation industries, could promote large-scale emission reductions. Emphasis was also placed on forest conservation efforts and water supply conservation.

These are all important steps. But not enough.

The summit shocked the world and set out to accelerate a wide range of actions. And he told the world about the harsh truth, and revealed the leader and the other countries. There is no place to hide the refusal and the large emission countries.

I keep asking them to take more steps in their own country and advance the green economy around the world.

Our stars are looking for truly global action. It can't happen overnight, and it can't be done without the full efforts of the country that is responsible for most of the crisis.

If the world avoids climate debris, more is needed than science advises. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 30 years, zero real emissions by 50 years, and limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by the end of this century. This is a way to save the future.

For our grandchildren

Many countries rely on coal, even though they already have cheap and environmentally friendly options. Develop carbon pricing and ensure that there is no new coal fired power by 20 years. The trillions of dollars of taxpayers' hard work ends up being handed over to the dying fossil fuel industry that makes hurricanes huge, spreads tropical diseases, and intensifies conflicts.

At the same time, developed countries must keep their commitments to contribute $ 100 billion annually to the public and private sectors by 20 years to reduce emissions in developing countries and respond to global warming.

I am convinced that at the United Nations Conference on the Parties to the Climate Change (COP25) starting in Santiago, Chile, each country, companies and local governments will explain their goals. The United Nations will support the realization of its efforts.

Climate change is a problem that determines our time.

Science says the temperature will rise at least 3 degrees at the end of this century if it goes as it is. I have no grandchildren at that time.

I refuse to become an accomplice who destroys the one and only earth where they live.

Young people, the United Nations, business and finance, government, civil society leaders, the majority, are moving and taking action. However, to succeed, many others need to take measures against global warming.

The destination is long. But the movement started.