Protecting Our Climate Is World's Greatest Leadership, UN Boss Tells Global Leaders At COP28

• COP28 is being held in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates (UAE) between Thursday, November 30, 2023, and Tuesday, December 12, 2023
• Antonio Guterres observed that the earth’s vital signs are failing: record emissions, ferocious fires, deadly droughts, and the hottest year ever
• According to Antonio Guterres, the success of COP28 summit depends on the global stocktake prescribing a credible cure in three areas

Dennis Lubanga, a Kenyan journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than 10 years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Dubai – United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has urged global leaders to help cure the devastating effects of climate change.

Speaking on Friday, November 1, when he officially opened the 2023 United Nations Climate Summit in Dubai, Guterres observed that the earth’s vital signs are failing: record emissions, ferocious fires, deadly droughts, and the hottest year ever.

“We are miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement—and minutes to midnight for the 1.5-degree limit. But it is not too late. You can prevent planetary crashes and burns,” said the UN boss.

Guterres observed that world leaders have the technologies to avoid the worst of climate chaos.

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has charted a clear path to a 1.5-degree world. But we need leadership, cooperation, and political will. And we need it now,” he explained.

Why the global climate should be protected

Guterres also said that global warming is busting budgets, ballooning food prices, upending energy markets, and feeding a cost-of-living crisis.

Those present included Kenyan President William Ruto, President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (United Arab Emirates), and COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, among others.

“Protecting our climate is the world’s greatest test of leadership. I urge you to lead. Humanity’s fate hangs in the balance. Make this COP count,” he said.

What does the success of COP28 depend on

According to Guterres, the success of COP28 depends on the global stocktake prescribing a credible cure in three areas.

“The global stocktake must set clear expectations for economy-wide, nationally determined contributions that cover all greenhouse gases and align with the 1.5-degree limit. The G20, which represents 80% of the world’s emissions, must lead,” he explained.

The UN boss further urged countries to speed up their net zero timelines to get there as close as possible to 2040 in developed countries and 2050 in emerging economies.

“We cannot save a burning planet with a firehose of fossil fuels. We must accelerate a just, equitable transition to renewables. The science is clear: The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate.” Guterres added.

He also urged governments to help industry make the right choice by regulating, legislating, putting a fair price on carbon, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and adopting a windfall tax on profits.

“Climate justice is long overdue. Developing countries are being devastated by disasters they did not cause. Extortionate borrowing costs are blocking their climate action plans. And support is far too little, far too late,” said Guterres.

He observed that the global stocktake must commit to a surge in finance, including for adaptation, loss, and damage.

“It must support reform of the multilateral development banks to leverage far more private finance at reasonable costs. Developed countries must show how they will double adaptation finance to KSh 6.1 trillion a year by 2025 – as promised – and clarify how they deliver on the KSh 15.3 trillion – as promised,” said Guterres.

TUKO.co.ke previously reported that as the world geared up for the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28), Guterres called upon developed countries to walk their talk.

What Antonio Guterres said ahead of COP28

TUKO.co.ke understands that COP28 is being held in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates (UAE) between Thursday, November 30, 2023, and Tuesday, December 12, 2023, and will be a milestone moment when the world will take stock of its progress on the Paris Agreement.

A statement from the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General (ESOG) seen by TUKO.co.ke showed that Guterres is pushing governments to come together to line up the necessary finance, support, and partnerships.

This is aimed at increasing ambition in their national climate plans and swiftly putting those plans into action.