The consequences of rich and poor countries failing to agree on climate policies at Cop27 would be "absolutely catastrophic", according to the UN's secretary general. Antonio Guterres warned that the world Is "doomed" without a historic pact being signed between developed and undeveloped nations.
Speaking on the eve of Cop27, the UN chief told The Guardian the result of present policies and dynamics between the developed and developing world, if unchanged, would be “absolutely catastrophic”. World leaders, environmentalists and business figures will gather at the global climate event at Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, following last year’s summit in Glasgow.
“There is no way we can avoid a catastrophic situation, if the two [the developed and developing world] are not able to establish a historic pact,” he said. Rich nations previously promised to find 100 billion dollars a year in climate finance for poor nations, with the target originally meant to have been hit in 2020.
It was first promised in 2009, but has never been accomplished. A report last year suggested it would not come to fruition until 2023.
Mr Guterres said that the world is approaching “tipping points” that will “make [climate breakdown] irreversible” as he defended his use of strong language. He added: “And as we are approaching those tipping points, we need to increase the urgency, we need to increase the ambition, and we need to rebuild trust, mainly trust between north and south.
“Because at the present level, we will be doomed. Present policies will be absolutely catastrophic. And the truth is that we will not be able to change this situation if a pact is not put in place between developed countries and the emerging economies.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke at a Cop27 reception on Friday hosted by the King in anticipation of the conference. Charles III will miss the crunch climate summit with Sunak expected to attend the event in Egypt following a U-turn.
Speaking at a reception staged in the Buckingham Palace ballroom on Friday, Mr Sunak said: “As recent events have shown, delivering on the promise of Glasgow is more important than ever. More important because as we have seen so starkly with the war in Ukraine, it is vital to invest in secure, renewable sources of energy and sustainable food production.
“More important because every moment we allow climate change to ravage our planet we will see more human suffering like the devastating floods in Pakistan. And more important because if we do not act today, we will risk leaving an ever more desperate inheritance for our children.”
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