UN Secy-Gen Antonio Guterres remarks 1.5 degree global warming goal on 'life support'

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference enters its final days, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked the objective of reducing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is "on life support." However, he added that the hope should be maintained until the last moment. In an interview with The Associated Press (AP) on Thursday, Guterres predicted that the talks in Glasgow will "most probably" fail to produce the carbon-cutting pledges required to protect the world from warming over 1.5 degrees Celsius.

He said that the discussions have so far failed to achieve any of the United Nations' three declared aims for the annual conference, known as COP26. To achieve the objectives mentioned by Guterres, one is to cut carbon emissions by about half by 2030. The other two are for rich countries to fulfil a 12-year-old pledge to provide $100 billion in financial climate aid to poor countries each year, with half of that going to developing countries to help them adapt to the worst effects of climate change.

Glasgow talks are "at a critical juncture": Guterres

According to Guterres, the Glasgow talks are "at a critical juncture" and must accomplish more than securing a "weak settlement" that all participating countries agree to endorse. "The worst thing would be to reach an agreement at all costs by a minimum common denominator that would not respond to the huge challenges we face," he was quoted as saying by the news agency. Guterres said that if negotiators fail to agree on significant carbon-cutting targets, State leaders will be required to make new pledges at high-level meetings next year and in 2023. At this stage, he believes it is critical that countries revise their targets and send top leaders to the climate talks every year. Guterres, on the other hand, refused to indicate when he believes the 1.5-degree goal will have to be abandoned. 

Guterres cited Wednesday's, November 10, agreement between the US and China to reduce emissions this decade as one of the reasons he still expects for success in Glasgow. He stated that China's decision to reduce emissions before 2030 shows a significant shift in the top emitter's stance. The UN Secretary-General also expressed hope that two thorny issues that have eluded resolution for the past six years can be resolved in Glasgow: the creation of workable markets for trading carbon credits and transparency that demonstrates that promised pollution-reduction actions are actually being taken.

(With AP inputs)

Image: AP