In a video message, António Guterres thanked the group for undertaking the important task led by former Environment Canada Minister Catherine McKenna.
“Your skill and experience can help keep 1.5 alive. We know what we need – global emissions must be reduced by 45% by 2030, starting now. Or rather, yesterday. he said.
The head of the United Nations denounced the fact that Fossil fuel interests are now ‘crookedly using’ the war in Ukraine to lock in a high-carbon futurenote that financial and technical obstacles to renewable energy deployment are hurting many developing countries.
“The world is in a race against time. We cannot afford slow engines, fake engines or any form of cleaning,” Guterres stressed.
© Unsplash / Paul Gilmore
Emissions from a power plant in Koln, Germany.
The lack of credibility
The secretary general recalled that he decided to form the group due to “lack of credibility and a lot of confusion” about emissions cuts and zero targets.
“We need to make sure zero-net commitments are ambitious and credibleand they conform to the highest standards of environmental integrity and transparency.
He added: “They must also take action and be mindful of different circumstances, outlining the main task facing the Group.
The head of the United Nations recognized the independence of experts and said that the best defense against “special interests” would be full transparency of their consultations and processes. .
Unsplash / Appolinary Kalashnikova
Clean energy, like wind power, is critical to achieving net zero emissions.
The group’s mission
The Expert groupcomprising 18 members from diverse backgrounds, will meet in person in May—a meeting that will be attended by the Secretary-General.
Their primary mission is to deliver more ambitious recommendations for climate action and environmental integrity that address four specific areas:
- Current standards and definitions for setting net-free targets.
- Credit criteria are used to evaluate targets, measure and report zero commitments.
- Processes to verify and calculate progress toward zero commitments and reported decarbonization plans.
- Roadmap for converting standards and criteria into national and international regulations.
