The world is moving rapidly towards a climate crisis that poses an existential threat to our planet. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres aptly described our situation as being \"on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.\" The urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming cannot be overstated.
Scientific consensus emphasizes the necessity of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Achieving this target requires halting new investments in fossil fuels—a strategy that, so far, has not been implemented at the necessary speed and scale.
Recent events, including the UN General Assembly and Climate Week NYC, have underscored the gap between global leaders' pledges and their actions. For instance, the United States has greenlit the Willow oil project in Alaska, while Brazil is exploring oil near the mouth of the Amazon River. These decisions highlight the tension between short-term economic gains and long-term planetary health.
Ironically, some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change—and those least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions—are leading the way in meeting the 1.5-degree target. Ecuador's historic referendum this year halted oil drilling in Yasuni National Park, part of the Amazon rainforest. Belize became the first nation to ban offshore oil exploration in 2018.
The Global Solidarity Report 2023 paints a sobering picture of international cooperation on climate action. Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Nation, Glocalities, and Goals House, the report assesses the strength and resilience of global solidarity. It reveals that the world is in the \"danger zone,\" scoring just 39 out of 100 on a new scale measuring global solidarity—where 100 represents the highest level of shared purpose.
While public solidarity for climate action is more widespread than commonly perceived, institutional responses lag behind. Take the United Kingdom, for example: nearly half of UK respondents believe the country should leave oil and gas reserves untouched, yet the government recently approved a massive new oilfield in the North Sea. This move, coming soon after the UK supported the Glasgow Climate Pact at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, highlights the widening trust gap between governments and their citizens, as well as among nations.
The disconnect between public will and governmental policy underscores the critical need for authentic global solidarity to address the climate crisis effectively. Without decisive action and unified efforts, the goal of limiting global warming to safe levels remains elusive.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
