The United Kingdom, host of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) made an “urgent call” for global action in response to the recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which warns that the planet has warmed more than previously estimated.
The report warns that climate change is already affecting all regions of the world and that without urgent action to limit warming, heat waves, heavy rainfall, droughts and loss of Arctic sea ice, snow cover and permafrost, they will increase while carbon sinks will become less effective in slowing the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The IPCC report highlights that reducing global emissions, starting immediately, to net zero by mid-century, would give a good chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C in the long run and help avoid the worst effects of climate change.
“Today’s report is a sobering read, and it is clear that the next decade will be critical to securing the future of our planet. We know what needs to be done to limit global warming: leave coal in history and switch to clean energy sources, protect nature and provide climate finance to frontline countries,” said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“The UK is leading the way, decarbonising our economy faster than any G20 country in the last two decades. I hope today’s IPCC report will be a wake-up call for the world to act now, before we meet in Glasgow in November for the COP26 summit,” Johnson added.
COP President Alok Sharma has been negotiating with governments and businesses to increase global climate ambition and take immediate action to help halve global emissions over the next decade and reach net-zero emissions by mid-century to keep the 1.5°C target set out in the Paris Agreement within reach.
The UK is already showing leadership with clear plans to reduce its emissions by 68% by 2030 and 78% by 2035, leading to net zero by 2050.
Currently, more than 70% of the world economy has a net zero target, up from 30% when the UK assumed the incoming presidency of the COP. The first net-zero G7 was established in May, and all countries presented emission reduction targets for 2030, which put them on track to achieve this target by 2050. However, the IPCC report shows that more action is urgently needed.
In a meeting with scientists today (Monday 9 August), COP26 President Alok Sharma will encourage countries that have not yet done so to urgently submit new or updated NDCs with their plans for ambitious climate action ahead of this year’s COP26 in Glasgow, particularly all major G20 economies that are responsible for more than 80% of global emissions.
“Our message to every country, government, company and part of society is simple. The next decade is decisive, follow the science and accept your responsibility to keep the 1.5°C target alive,” Sharma said.
