The UN Climate Action Summit – a missed opportunity

“The summit did not go far enough. The science is clear – we cannot exceed a 1.5°C temperature rise. It is time to ditch the 2°C target. Despite being a key opportunity for all leaders to show they had got the message and would take action that reflected the urgency the climate emergency demands, many rich and historically responsible governments fell short.

“The Least Developed Countries showed true leadership by declaring determined commitments to get on to a climate-resilient pathway by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Despite hundreds of new initiatives announced with billions of dollars attached, most are not responding to what the people living in climate vulnerable areas say they need. Instead, they are being determined by international partners and donors.

“Although many rich countries pledged to double the finance for the Green Climate Fund, to be effective it must include fundamental reforms to make sure more money is directed to the local level and the poorest countries can directly access it.

“There is a lot to do between now and 2020. Leaders need to roll up their sleeves and update their plans in time for the UN climate summit in Glasgow, at the latest. Governments must ensure that every policy they have – including for aid, trade and agriculture – is in line with tackling climate change. With national pledges as they stand, the world is heading for 3°C rise by the end of the century, with catastrophic implications.

“The voices of children have not yet been heard by the powerful, and the implications of the science have not been taken on board. Leaders need to go further and faster and the next year must not be wasted.”