The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has called for critical COP28 talks in Dubai to outline ‘drastic climate action’, warning that the world is far from meeting its goals in addressing global warming. In a new report, the UN has warned that countries’ commitments to reduce greenhouse gases are not enough to prevent warming beyond safe limits, potentially reaching a catastrophic 2.9 degrees Celsius this century.
Guterres emphasized the urgency of the situation and called on leaders to take immediate action. He criticized the failure of leadership and the betrayal of vulnerable communities, stressing the need for increased ambition in national plans to align with 1.5 degrees and end the use of fossil fuels.
The United Nations has issued a stark warning that based on current policies, the planet is on track for disastrous warming of 2.5 to 2.9 degrees by 2100. Despite efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, global greenhouse gas emissions have been steadily increasing, rising by 1.2% from 2021 to 2022, primarily driven by fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes.
The upcoming COP28 climate talks in Dubai will be crucial in defining the necessary steps to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.