On the eve of COP29, in Azerbaijan, the secretary general of , , warned that the world still underestimates the risks of a catastrophic collapse and the collapse of ecosystems. In an interview with the British newspaper The GuardianGuterres highlighted that global temperatures are on track to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in the coming years, which could lead to irreversible tipping points, such as the collapse of the Amazon rainforest and the ice sheet. Greenland.
Guterres emphasized that governments are not making the deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions needed to limit warming to safe levels. With wildfires, droughts and extreme weather events already devastating parts of the planet, new research raises concerns about the stability of natural carbon sinks, key to decarbonization efforts. In 2023, during the hottest year on record, forests, plants and soils have absorbed almost no carbon, indicating that the resilience of Earth’s systems is beginning to fail.
The secretary-general called for greater coordination on the interconnected environmental crises of the 21st century, highlighting that it is not possible to combat global warming without also acting against the loss of biodiversity, which protects forests and other natural carbon sinks. “The risk of these tipping points accelerating climate change must be taken very seriously,” said Guterres, citing the possibility of the Amazon rainforest irreversibly becoming a savannah.
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In the coming days, governments will meet around the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss how to increase funding for climate adaptation and mitigation. Negotiations are expected to be tense, especially over a new financial target that will replace the $100 billion commitment that expires next year. Discussions will also address which countries will help provide the trillions of dollars needed to decarbonize the global economy, with pressure on oil states such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Guterres highlighted the importance of decisive action to completely eliminate fossil fuels, stating that by 2030, emissions should be reduced by 9% per year. “Unfortunately, last year there was a growth of 1.3%, which means that we run the risk of exceeding not just 1.5°C, but eventually 2°C”, he warned. He believes that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is still possible, but that political will is crucial to prevent tipping points from becoming irreversible.
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