Big polluters such as China must “step up” with new plans to cut emissions or it will miss targets on reducing global warming, Britain’s chief environment secretary today warned.
World leaders will have to deliver on vows to curb dangerous climate change during talks in the French capital, the president warned.
The Paris climate accord, signed by countries during the UN’s talks six years ago, is complying with the obligation to keep the temperature increase to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and efforts to limit it to 1.5C.
“The response of the G20 will quite simply be make or break for keeping 1.5 within reach,” Sharma said, urging G-20 countries to “kick coal into the past” by phasing out fossil fuel use at home and stopping financing for new projects overseas.
Current policies and commitments place the world far from meeting its 1.5 degree objective, avoiding the worst of heat waves, floods, damage to natural systems, rising sea levels and diseases that generate higher temperatures.
Asked at a press conference after the speech how confident he was that the G20 countries will present the plans, he said:”Every leader wants to make sure they and their country are part of the solution in Glasgow.
The plan, detailing how Britain will meet its targets and reduce emissions to zero by 2050 altogether, is anticipated ahead of Copenhagen.
“within touching distance”Alok Sharma
He said that reaching the $100bn goal was “within our grasp,” and urged all donor nations to move toward the Cop26 as funds are crucial to make the summit a success.
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