The top UN official on Tuesday addressed the summit of the G20 group, which accounts for 85 percent of the global economy and includes 19 countries and the European Union.
He warned that our climate was on the brink of destruction. “If we don’t limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a rapid increase in disasters will destroy every economy.”
Against the background of COP29, the UN’s annual climate conference in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, he warned of climate risks, saying failure is not an option.
Secretary-General Guterres noted that the success of the UN Climate Summit rests largely in the hands of G20 members.
“The G20 accounts for 80 percent of global emissions. “So, we need your leadership.” In this vein, he called for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 9 percent per year this decade.
The Secretary-General welcomed the climate commitments made by Brazil and the United Kingdom and announced a new global initiative for data integrity on climate change.
Under this initiative, Brazil and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will work together to combat the deliberate spread of misinformation.
Next year, Brazil will host the COP30 summit, emphasizing the need to agree on the first climate finance agreement.
“We need to build on Baku’s success, build confidence and encourage the preparation of a highly-ambitious national climate plan next year.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres with world leaders at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Crisis in world governance
The UN chief stressed that the climate crisis has become more complex due to the challenges facing global institutions. At the same time, there are difficulties for international cooperation.
“We are faced with a lack of global governance and a lack of global trust. “Poverty, inequality and the climate crisis are worsening and peace is slipping away from us.”
He expressed outrage that innocent people are paying a terrible price for war and violent conflict and that the Security Council is powerless to stop it.
In view of this, he appealed to strengthen the reform process in international organizations and said that it must be prevented from becoming an unfulfilled prospect.
Reform support
Antonio Guterres also called on the G20 countries to radically change the current international financial system, which in his opinion is now outdated and unfair.
From the perspective of addressing global challenges, the UN Conference on ‘Financing for Development’ in Spain in July next year and then COP30 in Brazil will be important.
The Secretary General reiterated that the success of this upcoming meeting largely depends on the leadership of the G20 group and their commitment to the reform process.
“We must ensure that we support these necessary reforms to global governance, as they are absolutely essential to rebuilding trust in today’s world.”