UN secretary-general warns of severe economic damage if global warming exceeds 1.5°C  

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that failure to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C will result in severe damage to the economies of all nations due to natural disasters.

Guterres emphasised that accelerating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to preventing catastrophic consequences, Caliber.Az reports. 

He stressed that the countries must strive to stay within the 1.5-degree target and must accelerate emission reductions in the short term.

The UN secretary-general expressed regret that emissions continue rising, urging for more decisive actions. There was a need to fast-track a just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. 

He emphasised that the end of the fossil fuel era was inevitable and urged that everything possible should be done to ensure the transition was not delayed and that it was fair for all. 

Guterres also called on the G20 countries to remain vigilant, reminding them that the G20 accounts for 80 per cent of global emissions.

He noted that as President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pointed out, the G20 bears responsibility for the majority of global emissions. Therefore, decisive action is necessary. Last week, two members of G20 - Brazil and the United Kingdom - set an example by announcing new measures to reduce emissions.

The UN secretary-general emphasised the importance of success at the upcoming conference in Baku, calling for the development of ambitious national climate plans for the coming year. These plans, along with financial commitments, must meet the needs of developing countries, including a significant increase in concessional financing. 

Guterres also welcomed the recent statement from multilateral development banks and urged all countries participating in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) to take responsibility and work towards the successful outcome of the conference. 

COP29, which is being held at Baku Stadium from November 11-22, is Azerbaijan’s most significant international event to date and the first time the country has hosted a COP conference. The summit kicked off with the signing of the Host Country Agreement and other key documents between the Azerbaijani government and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. One of the central goals of COP29 is the establishment of a New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. To further this aim, the COP29 presidency has introduced 14 key initiatives designed to integrate climate action with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  These initiatives cover a broad spectrum of critical areas, including the development of green energy corridors, energy storage solutions, climate resilience strategies, clean hydrogen, methane reduction from organic waste, and the promotion of green digital technologies.

A flagship proposal of the conference is the creation of the Climate Finance Action Fund, which is aimed at supporting efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Throughout the event, Azerbaijan has continued to reaffirm its strong commitment to addressing climate change and promoting environmental protection. The unanimous decision to select Azerbaijan as the host for COP29 reflects the global community’s trust in the country’s leadership on climate-related issues. In his opening remarks, President Ilham Aliyev underscored Azerbaijan’s central role in global climate efforts, emphasizing the nation’s dedication to tackling climate change and advancing sustainable development.

By Naila Huseynova