Welcoming United States re-entry into Paris Climate Change Agreement, UN Secretary-General calls for transformative change to reduce emissions, stressing ‘This Year Is Pivotal’
New York: When Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry of the United States, signed the Paris Agreement in 2016, he brought his granddaughter to the United Nations with him. But thereafter, the US under President Donald Trump had walked out of the Agreement. (Kerry was the US Secretary of State when the US alongside 194 other countries had adopted the Paris Agreement in December 2015).
Much water has flown under the bridge since then. Hence, on February 19, 2021, when the United States officially rejoined the Paris Agreement after a gap of four years, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres recalled the incident of Kerry bringing his granddaughter along, and remarked: “We cannot be together today, but we can all reflect on our responsibilities to future generations. The Paris Agreement is our pact with our descendants and the whole human family.”
Guterres said it was a pleasure to mark this occasion particularly with Kerry, “whose own work is reflected in this historic agreement”.
I’m very pleased to mark the return of the United States to the #ParisAgreement with US @ClimateEnvoy John Kerry.
This is good news for the United States — and for the world.
Welcome back.https://t.co/2Muu7JHDI7 pic.twitter.com/TW223AN61a
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) February 19, 2021
It may be mentioned that although the Paris Agreement is an historic achievement, the commitments made so far are not enough. and even those commitments made in Paris are not being met. There is a great challenge in hand as the world the year 2021 marks the beginning of implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, to enhance the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The objective of the UNFCCC is to achieve stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
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No doubt that with oceans reaching new temperatures and the spreading of deserts across the globe causing grave concern, the warning signs, as Guterres remarked, is everywhere. The six years since 2015 have been the six hottest years on record. Carbon dioxide levels are at record highs. Fires, floods and other extreme weather events are getting worse, in every region. Women and girls bear the brunt of the climate crisis; fully 80 per cent of those displaced by climate change are women.
“If we don’t change course, we could face a catastrophic temperature rise of more than 3°C this century,” Guterres warned.
That the US has a key role to play goes without saying and the UN too, acknowledges this fact. Guterres made it even more obvious when he said: “Today is a day of hope, as the United States officially rejoins the Paris Agreement. This is good news for the United States — and for the world.”
For the past four years, the absence of the US, obviously a key player, had created a gap in the Paris Agreement; a missing link that weakened the whole. ” So today, as we mark the United States re-entry into this treaty, we also recognise its restoration, in its entirety, as its creators intended,” the UN Secretary-General said.
This year, 2021, is pivotal. COP26 [twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)] in Glasgow will be a make it or break it occasion. Governments will take decisions that will determine the future of people and planet.
“I count on the United States, together with all other G20 members, to rally behind these three main objectives and to engage in the international negotiations that will be needed for success at COP26,” Guterres said.
It goes without saying that the United States, together with all members of the Group of 20 (G20), has a decisive role in delivering the three main objectives – First, the long-term vision; Second, delivering a decade of transformation; and Third, the actions that are needed now.
- The long-term vision: A central objective for the United Nations this year is to create a truly global coalition for net‑zero emissions by 2050. In the past year, countries representing 70 per cent of the world economy and 65 per cent of global carbon‑dioxide emissions committed to net zero. Guterres hoped that the US will formally join this coalition very soon, as pledged by President Joseph R. Biden, and will present its concrete plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
- Delivering a decade of transformation: Guterres said the science is clear and what is needed is exponential progress on reducing emissions now. “We expect all Governments to present more ambitious concrete and credible nationally determined contributions for the next 10 years, by COP26 in November. I commend all the American states, cities, businesses and financial institutions that have shown impressive leadership since 2015 by committing to the goals of the Paris Agreement through the “We Are Still In” declaration,” he said. Obviously the world relies on the United States to build on this with an ambitious and credible nationally determined contribution for 2030, aligned with President Biden’s commitment to achieve net‑zero emissions before 2050.
- The actions we need now: The recovery from the pandemic is an opportunity to rebuild stronger and better. To do that, it is now a must to invest in a green economy that will help to heal the planet and its people, and create well-paying, stable jobs to ensure more equitable and sustainable prosperity.
Now, the UN sees, is the time to implement transformative change: phase out coal. Support a just transition, with training and opportunities for people whose jobs will be impacted. “Stop investing in fossil fuel projects that ruin people’s health, destroy biodiversity and contribute to the climate catastrophe. Shift the tax burden from income to carbon; from consumers to polluters,” Guterres said. He also acknowledged the need to close the finance gap by supporting countries that are suffering the ravaging impacts of the climate crisis. “That support must reach the countries and people who are most impacted,” he said.
“I urge all G7 countries to deliver concrete results on finance at their summit in June. Those that have not done so already must commit to doubling their climate finance. All developed countries must honour the pledge to contribute $100 billion annually to developing countries. I am also asking all donors to commit to increasing the share of climate finance allocated to adaptation, to reach 50 per cent. And I ask all financial institutions and banks to align their investments with the Paris Agreement by 2024,” Guterres said. He added: “This is the race of our lifetimes. We must go much faster, and much farther. It is within our power to build a future of renewable energy and green infrastructure that protects people and planet and ensures prosperity for all. Let’s get to work.”
– global bihari bureau
To walk out from Paris Agreement was not a good decision of Trump it is now revived. Welcome news.