Glasgow (dpa) – With a passionate appeal, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the states of the world to be much more ambitious in the fight against global warming.
At the start of the COP26 world climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in front of dozens of heads of state and government, all the already promised efforts to protect the climate were not enough, back and forth, to avert a catastrophe. “We’re digging our own grave.”
US President Joe Biden and the outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel also called for more speed in climate protection in speeches. “We’re not where we need to be,” said Merkel.
Government representatives from around 200 countries
At the invitation of the United Nations, government representatives from around 200 countries in Scotland discuss for two weeks how accelerated global warming can be contained to a bearable level. However, the G20 summit on Sunday put a damper on it: the economic powers only made vague decisions on climate protection and, from the point of view of most observers, failed to send a strong political signal to Glasgow.
Guterres demanded that all governments end their subsidies for fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal, phase out coal and set a price for all greenhouse gas emissions. “It is time to say: Enough,” said Guterres. «Enough brutal attacks on biodiversity. Enough carbon self-destruction. Enough of the fact that nature is treated like a toilet. “
Merkel warns of “devastating effects”
Merkel, who was at the very first UN climate conference in 1995, warned of the “devastating effects of climate change”. In the fight against global warming, the industrialized countries in particular bear responsibility. It is about a “comprehensive transformation” of our life, work and economy. This only works through a price on carbon dioxide emissions.
Biden said to the assembled heads of state: “We are at a turning point in world history.” There is only a short window of time to act. “Glasgow must be the starting gun for a decade of ambition and determination,” he added. The US wanted to lead by example. “I know that wasn’t the case. That’s why my government is working overtime to show that our commitment to climate protection is action, not words. ” Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump had doubts whether climate change is man-made at all – such doubts have been scientifically clearly refuted.
Johnson: “It’s a minute to midnight”
The conference host, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, also swore the world community to act swiftly and ambitiously. “It’s a minute to midnight on the doomsday clock,” he said. “We may not feel like James Bond, and we might not look like it either.” But with a view to the film secret agent and the danger of global heating, he said: “Let’s defuse this bomb.”
The British heir to the throne, Prince Charles, recalled the important role of the private sector for a climate-neutral future. Industry and banks would have trillions to drive the transformation. “We know from the (Corona) pandemic that the private sector can drastically shorten deadlines if everyone agrees on the urgency and direction of something.”
The earth has already warmed up by around 1.1 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels; in Germany it is already 1.6 degrees. In Paris, six years ago, the international community agreed to limit global warming to a maximum of two degrees, preferably 1.5 degrees. So far, the plans submitted by the states are nowhere near enough.
Greta Thunberg also present
Among the around 28,000 people expected in Glasgow are numerous activists who want to protest on the streets for a more ambitious climate policy – including the world’s most prominent activist, 18-year-old Swede Greta Thunberg.
An open letter from leading activists around Thunberg to the leaders of the world found more than a million supporters in a short time. By Monday afternoon, almost 1.1 million people had signed the appeal published at the start of the world climate conference with their e-mail addresses. In this, Thunberg, Vanessa Nakate from Uganda, Dominika Lasota from Poland and Mitzi Tan from the Philippines call on the heads of state and government to finally tackle the climate crisis decisively and with immediate and drastic measures.
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