The global body's High Commission for Human Rights stated that only urgent and priority actions can prevent or mitigate disasters that could have devastating and sometimes fatal consequences on everyone, including our children and grandchildren, in a statement made ahead of the U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow.
Michelle Bachelet encouraged governments to fulfill their pledges of financial assistance to poor countries most at risk of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dealing with the effects of global warming.
She stated that "this is a matter of survival and human rights." "Without a healthy planet for us to live on, we will not have human rights. And if we keep going on our current course, then there may not be any humans."
John Kerry, the U.S. climate ambassador, echoed her words and warned of the devastating effects that exceeding the 2015 Paris agreement's global warming goal will have on both nature and humans.
He said that "Devastating consequences" would follow if we go above the 1.5 degrees Celsius (Celsius) at the London School of Economics on Thursday. "And now we are already at 1.2 C."
This is not an exaggerated threat. Kerry said Kerry: "Just ask the people of Fiji, Marshall Islands and other vulnerable countries."
The diplomat still tried to be positive ahead of the summit that brings together thousands of scientists, officials and climate activists.
He said that he was an optimist and headed to Glasgow because governments had made more ambitious climate plans than any other.
Kerry mentioned recent Biden administration commitments for the United States of "net zero" greenhouse gases emissions by mid century, similar moves made by other countries, and an increasing awareness of the urgent need to address climate change.
Kerry cited a U.N. report that highlighted the gap between pledges from countries and what scientists believe is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 C by the end century. Kerry stated that the top 20 nations are responsible for this. This weekend, many of these countries will gather in Rome for the G-20 meeting. Climate is expected to be a key topic.
Kerry pointed out that China is the top polluter in the world and emits around 80% of the greenhouse gases the entire world can afford. This is if the world wants to reach the Paris goals.
Beijing stated that it will peak its emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2060, a decade earlier than the United States of America and the European Union. These countries have historically been the largest contributors to global warming.
Kerry stated that Glasgow was not the end of the road and that countries should continue to increase their goals over the next few years.
Climate think tanks released a report Thursday stating that there are urgent needs to accelerate changes in power generation, industry, and agriculture.
It examined 40 indicators and the "bad news" is that none of them are currently on track, according to Kelly Levin, co-author of the report and chief of Science, Data and Systems Change at Bezos Earth Fund.
Levin stated that "the bright spots are few in number, to be truthful." "And even though we are seeing positive change in many indicators, it is necessary to accelerate this pace of change by at least a factor of twice."
Separately, Red Cross reported that climate and weather-related catastrophes caused more than 30,000,000 people to flee their homes in 2020. This is three times the number of people who were forced from their homes by war.
These countries included Iraq, Yemen, Mozambique and Mozambique. However, rich nations like Germany were also affected by the devastating floods that hit the west this year.
"While climate change affects all, it has an disproportionate effect on the world’s poorest people, who are contributing least to climate change," Red Cross Secretary General Jagan Chapagain stated in the report.
