The United Nations is vocal about the risk of climate change
The annual session of the United Nations General Assembly was held recently. In a speech at the United States headquarters in New York, the heads of state and governments of countries suffering from climate change have taken a tough stance against developed countries.
They have demanded to take quick and effective measures to prevent climate change and to implement the agreement to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Nikenike Burabaravu, President of the South Pacific islands’ nation of Vanuatu, said, ”Time is running out. Now is the Time for Urgent action.”
To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the countries of the world agreed to reduce the use of coal, fuel oil, and gas. However, many countries have not reduced their dependence on fossil fuels.
The President of Vanuatu, the affected country, demanded the speedy implementation of this agreement. He said, “This initiative for humanity will bring us under one umbrella to save the world.”
On the eve of the General Assembly session, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that it had not achieved the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, it could rise to 3.2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.
Due to increased carbon emissions and warming, catastrophic disasters such as floods, droughts, and fires have risen recently in different parts of the world.
Pakistan has been dealing with the worst floods in its history for months.
In his speech, Shahbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the country, addressed the question to the developed countries, ‘Why should the people of my country pay the price of global warming?’
He further said, ”People of Pakistan have faced the most disastrous experience of climate change. This flood has changed our lives forever. However, we are not responsible for it.”
Shahbaz called on the developed countries to accept responsibility, saying, “The climate crisis is unfair. Rich and developed countries must accept responsibility and take adequate measures because 22 crore people in my country are at the highest risk limit. However, we emit less than 1 percent of carbon.”
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, said, ‘Those who are least responsible for climate change suffer the most. The Philippines emits a small amount of carbon. However, we are in the fourth position in the list of affected countries.”
Commenting on climate risk mitigation as ‘the biggest challenge of the current century, David Kabua, President of the Asia-Pacific island state of Marshall Islands, said in his speech,
‘I call on all countries to start fighting for climate protection. Because even after years have passed, we have not been able to reduce the use of fossil fuels. This situation will destroy us.”
Frank Bainimarama, the Prime Minister of the island nation of Fiji, said in his address to the world’s countries,
‘We all know what we should do. However, we are not taking effective initiatives quickly due to apathy, denial, and lack of courage.”
The US and China are responsible for the most significant carbon emissions.
In his address to the General Assembly, Joe Biden, President of the US, also said, ‘We do not have much Time. Effective measures must take to prevent climate change.”
However, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said, ”It is true that less responsible people are suffering the most.”
At that time, he said to the rich countries, “Increase the tax on fuel companies, make arrangements to give financial aid to poor and affected countries. ”
If not, the UN Secretary-General has warned that humanity will face an extreme crisis.
