UNITED NATIONS, UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres has called on governments to embrace together the goals of phasing out coal, enhancing climate commitments, and investing in the international development goals so as to rise to \u2018the biggest challenge of our lives\u2019.<\/p>\n
The world needs a global partnership to beat COVID-19, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and address climate change, the UN chief said n a video message to a key international partnerships summit \u2014 the 2021 P4G \u2014 in Seoul, South Korea.<\/p>\n
The Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) event aims to boost market-based partnerships and rally high-level political and private sector action. It brings together Heads of State, CEOs, and civil society leaders around a shared action agenda to mobilize investments for tangible impact.<\/p>\n
Guterres said that although there are commitments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, there is \u201cstill much to do\u201d to close the emissions gap and achieve the SDGs.<\/p>\n
He reaffirmed his call to all main emitters to present new Nationally Determined Contributions, commit to net zero emissions by 2050, and, \u2018most importantly\u2019, put in place policies and programs towards achieving that goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cTackling climate change head-on will help protect the most vulnerable people from the next crisis while sustaining a job-rich recovery from the pandemic\u201d, he said, reminding that the first priority right now is stopping plans for new coal plants and phase-out of coal use by 2040.<\/p>\n
On that note, the Secretary General commended the South Korean government for announcing that it will stop all international coal finance and encouraged other government and private sector entities to do the same.<\/p>\n
Guterres also expressed his concern about the \u2018finance and adaption gaps\u2019. He said that developed countries have yet to deliver on the 100-billion-dollar annual commitment to climate action efforts and supporting vulnerable communities that are already suffering the consequences of global warming.<\/p>\n
He also said that one in three people globally are still not adequately covered by early warning systems, and women and girls, who make up 80 percent of those displaced by the climate emergency, are still often excluded from decisions to address the climate crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urgently need a breakthrough on adaptation and resilience\u201d, he added, asking all donor countries to significantly enhance their financial commitments.<\/p>\n
In his message, the UN chief highlighted the importance of financing the \u2018infrastructure of tomorrow\u2019 by supporting developing countries in a just transition to sustainable energy and a circular economy while helping them to diversify their economies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn short, we need a global partnership for green, inclusive, sustainable development\u201d, he underscored.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general warned that there is no global partnership if some are left \u201cstruggling to survive\u201d and said that this was true for COVID and the distribution of vaccines as well as the climate emergency.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this quest, the Republic of Korea is a leading partner\u201d, he said, commending the government for its 2050 net-zero pledge and the Korean Green New Deal.<\/p>\n
He stressed that if governments embrace the same goals, there will be an opportunity for a real partnership that will equip us to \u201crise to the biggest challenge of our lives\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres has called on governments to embrace together the goals of phasing out coal, enhancing climate commitments, and investing in the international development goals so as to rise to \u2018the biggest challenge of our lives\u2019. The world needs a global […]<\/p>\n
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