Climate ‘breaking point’ reached, while ‘outdated’ global system needs urgent reform: Guterres
Speaking at the G20 Summit – a forum that brings together 19 countries and the European Union, accounting for 85% of the world’s economy – Mr. Guterres gave a clear assessment.
“Our climate is at a breaking point,” he told the meeting of industrial powers. “Unless we limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, spiraling disasters will devastate every economy,” he told world leaders at the summit hosted by Brazil.
Important role in climate
related to COP29 continues in Baku, Mr. Guterres emphasized that “failure is not an option” warning of irreversible tipping points.
The success of the United Nations Climate Conference lies largely in the hands of G20 members: “The G20 is responsible for 80% of global emissions. So we need you in front,” he said, calling for emissions cuts of 9% annually this decade.
The Secretary-General welcomed recent climate commitments from Brazil and the UK, and announced the new Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, in partnership with Brazil and UNESCO to combat climate misinformation.
“Amazon conservation is a case in point,” Mr. Guterres noted, linking Brazil’s one-year hosting of COP30 to the urgent need for climate finance agreements at COP29. “We must succeed in Baku, building trust and encouraging the preparation of ambitious national climate plans next year”.
Secretary General António Guterres (4th left) in a photo with delegates attending the G20 Summit taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Global governance in crisis
Mr. Guterres emphasized that the climate crisis is further exacerbated by challenges to global institutions. The Secretary-General pointed to growing global challenges, highlighting a deepening crisis in international cooperation.
“We face a global governance deficit and a global trust deficit. Poverty, inequality and the climate crisis are getting worse, and peace is increasingly out of reach,” he said.
His comments come at a crucial time following the recent incident United Nations Future Summitpassed Pact for the future to strengthen multilateralism and global governance mechanisms.
Reform ‘must not become an illusion’
“As the war continues, innocent people are paying a terrible price and Security Council cannot stop themHe said, calling for “reforms to be pursued with determination and not become an illusion.”
The UN chief challenged G20 nations to review what he called the “outdated and unfair” international financial architecture.
“The world depends on you to act on your Treaty commitments to accelerate reformHe told the leaders, stressing the need to give fair representation to developing countries and protect vulnerable economies from global shocks.
The road ahead
As the two-day Summit comes to a close, world leaders are focusing on addressing the challenges at hand. Major United Nations Development Finance Conference in July in Spain, COP29 and COP30 next year in Brazil.
The Secretary General emphasized that the success of these upcoming meetings largely depends on the leadership and commitment to reform of the G20.
Mr. Guterres concluded that “we must ensure that we support the necessary reforms in global governance because they are absolutely necessary to rebuild trust in today’s world”.
