U.N. Official Issues Warning: Mankind 'in Danger of Disappearing’
- by Amanda Heroux
- in Science
- — Déc 5, 2018
"At the forefront of the fight against climate change in Africa, the African Development Bank, strongly represented in previous COP summits is, once again, present in Katowice to ensure that the voice of Africa is heard loud and clear in global climate negotiations", the bank said on its website.
As part of COP24, Attenborough was speaking from the "People's Seat": an effort to give a voice to the billions of citizens who aren't in attendance at the United Nations summit - but whose continued existence on the planet depends on the decisions made over the next fortnight by the delegates invited.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the COP24 United Nations climate conference, in Katowice, Poland, Attenborough called climate change "our greatest threat in thousands of years". "If we don't take action, the collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon".
A 15-year-old Swedish activist who takes time out of school to highlight the danger of global warming echoed his appeal. sentiment. old Greta Thunberg said world leaders who skip the climate summit are "very irresponsible".
Nations more immediately threatened by climate change, including Fiji, are urging for nations to act now. "And honestly if I would want to make more money, I would work in the finance sector, not in academic research, that's for sure", she added.
The UN has launched the "ActNow.bot" which will recommend everyday challenges to individuals on how they can play their part in the worldwide push for change.
Guterres said he hopes to have progress by then on efforts to mobilize $100 billion to help developing nations reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change.
Tens of thousands took part in the'Claim the Climate march in Brussels
Mr Guterres warned negotiators at the meeting that the world was "in deep trouble" with climate change. "For many people, regions, even countries, this is already a matter of life and death".
He told parties to the UN Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) that the world could not afford to waste any more time before taking action on climate change.
"This is the challenge on which this generation's leaders will be judged", he said. "Climate action offers a compelling path to transform our world for the better. This must be powered by multilateral cooperation".
To contain warming at 1.5 deg C, man-made global net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will need to fall by about 45 per cent by 2030 from 2010 levels and reach "net zero" by mid-century, according to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
A process to enable countries to announce efforts by 2020 to ramp up their domestic ambition on cutting greenhouse gas emissions must be launched, they said, as current efforts are not enough to prevent risky temperature rises.
The news outlet also stated that wildfires, heatwaves, and hurricanes are connected to climate change.
If you're shaking your head that President Trump still isn't on board with the accord, know that the U.S.at least agreed to sign on to a measure to support clean energy initiatives that reads, "We recognize the crucial role of energy in helping shape our shared future, and we encourage energy transitions that combine growth with decreasing greenhouse gas emissions toward cleaner, more flexible and transparent systems, and cooperation in energy efficiency".
