UN not happy with leaders retreating from climate change action

LONDON: In an online event by Chatham House, Patricia Espinosa, Climate Chief, United Nations, delivered a speech where she said the rich nations are failing to meet promises they made as part of the Paris Agreement. She noted that leaders of many large carbon-emitting nations are retreating from the commitments and implementation of solutions. She mentioned that the rich nations had agreed to raise $100 billion a year to help poorer and vulnerable countries in dealing with climate change, but the money is not getting delivered.

Donald Trump, President of the United States of America (USA), has blocked climate action set in motion by the previous President Barack Obama and has plans on pulling the USA out of the Paris Agreement. Trump also dismantled the Green Power Plan, a policy to reduce greenhouse emissions from power plants, as soon as he assumed office. Meanwhile, Jair Bolsonaro, President of Brazil, endorsed Amazon rainforest for mining and farming propelling a spike in deforestation and fires. Ms Patricia said, “Today there is a disconnect between those throughout the world calling for more urgent action and what national leaders have achieved so far.”

She referred to a study over the last 25 years that found the world’s wealthiest 1 per cent to be accountable for twice as many planet heating emissions as the poorest half of humanity. She added that it is a matter of governance and political will.