Weeks away from the 27th session of the UN Climate Conference (COP 27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of "climate chaos," explaining that the increasing emissions are at "an all-time high and rising."
He called on G20 of the world's wealthiest developed countries, companies, and investors to clarify their delivery of the $100 billion annual pledge to support climate action in developing countries.
The Sec-Gen was speaking at the pre-COP 27 ministerial preparatory meetings in Kinshasa amid efforts to curb the steady rise in atmospheric temperature, keeping it below the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold by 2040.
The earth's temperature has risen 1.1°C from pre-industrial levels, and current pledges and policies are shutting the door on the chance to limit global temperature rise to 2°C, let alone meet the 1.5°C, said Guterres, noting that the "work ahead is immense."
He indicated that "as immense as the climate impacts we are seeking around the world," climate change recently led to the flooding of a third of Pakistan, while Europe experienced "the hottest summer in 500 years," and the "whole of Cuba in black-out."
"Here, in the United States, Hurricane Ian has delivered a brutal reminder that no country and no economy is immune from the climate crisis."
He noted that while "climate chaos gallops ahead, climate action has stalled," considering that the Sharm el-Sheikh conference is "critical," but "we have a long way to go."
The Sec-Gen described the collective commitments of G20 governments as "far too little and far too late."
He reiterated that "there is no time to point fingers," urging "a game-changing, quantum level compromise between developed and emerging economies."
"Every government, every business, every investor, every institution must step up with concrete climate actions for net zero."
The Sec-Gen indicated that developed countries need to show evidence of how they will double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion in 2025, as agreed in Glasgow.
Guterres said Multilateral Development Banks, including the World Bank, must raise their game, considering the Resilience and Sustainability Trust led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a "good start."
The Small Island Developing States and other vulnerable middle-income countries need access to concessional finance for adaptation to protect their communities and infrastructure, asserted the Sec-Gen.
"I am urging leaders at the highest level to take full part in COP 27 and tell the world what climate action they will take nationally and globally," he concluded.
