CHENNAI: The G20 environment ministers, representing the world’s largest economies, were unable to reach a consensus on measures to combat the global climate crisis before the upcoming UN climate change conference. Unfortunately, no consensus was reached on key points, including significantly increasing the use of renewable energy sources.
The world needs urgent action to address the growing climate challenges, and the lack of progress is worrying. The European Union’s environment commissioner criticized the lack of agreement. He expressed concern that G20 countries, responsible for up to 80 percent of global greenhouse emissions, were falling short of their commitments to tackle climate change.
Virginijus Sinkevicius expressed disappointment in the G20 environment ministers’ failure to make bold choices. He said they lack leadership in addressing the global climate crisis. This comes after the announcement that July was the hottest month on record, with a heatwave causing deadly wildfires in various countries.
Sinkevicius highlighted that some delegations attempted to backtrack on previous climate commitments. He emphasized that decisions should not be based on the lowest common denominator or narrow national interests. The slowest movers in the room should not dictate the pace of change, he added. He urged his fellow ministers to prioritize meaningful action.
UN Chief Declares Earth Is Experiencing ‘Global Boiling’, Calls For Radical Action
Earlier, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the Earth has entered an “era of global boiling”. He urged immediate radical action on climate change, as the world witnessed record-breaking temperatures in July.
The northern hemisphere, including Europe and the Americas, is experiencing a blistering heatwave. It has led to devastating wildfires in countries like Greece, Italy, and Algeria along the Mediterranean.
In New York, Guterres referred to the intense northern hemisphere heat as a “cruel summer,”. He stated that it’s a disaster for the entire planet. He predicted that July 2023 would break numerous temperature records, except for an improbable mini-Ice Age.
