Day: October 28, 2022

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks on the release of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report, in Nairobi today:
Droughts, floods, storms and wildfires are devastating lives and livelihoods across the globe. Loss and damage from the climate emergency is getting worse by the day. And global and national climate commitments are falling pitifully short.
The window to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C is closing fast. Greenhouse gas emissions must be cut by 45 per cent this decade. But as today’s Emissions Gap Report confirms, they remain at dangerous and record highs and still rising.
Under current policies, the world is headed for 2.8°C of global heating by the end of the century. In other words, we are headed for a global catastrophe.
The emissions gap is a by-product of a commitments gap. A promises gap. An action gap. That gap must be filled — starting with the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Egypt.
G20 countries spew 80 per cent of global emissions. Developed countries must lead in boosting their national climate plans.
I recognize the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in the light of national circumstances. But emerging economies must also do more if we are to have a fighting chance of keeping 1.5 alive. They need financial and technical support to do so.
Just Transition Energy Partnerships are poised to help heavily coal-dependent emerging economies speed their shift to renewables. These partnerships are moving ahead in India, Indonesia, South Africa and Viet Nam. These coalitions of support must be expanded to even more countries.
The recommendations in today’s report are clear. End our reliance on fossil fuels. Avoid a lock-in of new fossil fuel infrastructure. Invest massively in renewables.
Renewables are a win-win-win solution for climate action, guaranteeing energy security, providing affordable access to electricity and generating new jobs.
To accelerate the deployment of renewables, it is high time for a historic pact between G20 developed and emerging economies to turbocharge the just energy transition. This pact would require developed countries to help emerging economies access low-cost finance, technologies, critical minerals and other raw materials.
At the same time, multilateral development banks — especially the World Bank Group — must commit to greater climate action. They must overhaul their entire business model and approach to risk to leverage massive private finance at reasonable cost. This is essential to helping developing countries reduce emissions and build climate resilience at scale.
Private sector investors and other financial institutions must also step up with concrete actions. Commitments to net zero are worth zero without the plans, policies and actions to back it up. Our world cannot afford any more greenwashing, fake movers or late movers.
At COP27, I look forward to receiving the recommendations of my Expert Group on net zero commitments of businesses, investors, cities and regions.
As today’s report makes clear, we are headed for economy-destroying levels of global heating. We need climate action on all fronts — and we need it now. We must close the emissions gap before climate catastrophe closes in on us all.

Source: United Nations

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki today in Ottawa. Secretary Blinken thanked Chairperson Faki for his support of the upcoming U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. The Secretary commended the African Union’s leadership in convening peace negotiations between the government of Ethiopia and Tigrayan regional authorities in South Africa. On Chad, the Secretary reiterated the AU principles on the transition, including on the ineligibility of transition leaders to participate in elections. The Secretary also raised the Black Sea Grain Deal and the positive impact it has had on critical grain reaching countries in need. The Secretary expressed appreciation for the AU’s role in responding to the current Uganda Ebola outbreak and coordinating regional prevention and preparedness efforts.

Source: US State Department

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. It’s a real pleasure to have the opportunity to meet with Chairman Faki. We’ve had many previous meetings. This one comes at an important time as the AU is playing a leadership role in trying to bring to an end the violence and conflict in northern Ethiopia; and so I look forward to hearing from the chairman about our combined efforts to do that, and also to talk a little bit about the Africa Leaders Summit that will take place in Washington in December, where President Biden very much looks forward to hosting the African Union and many other colleagues from around the continent.
Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRPERSON FAKI: (Via interpreter) It’s a pleasure for me, too, to meet Your Excellency. We have had our strategic dialogue in Washington. I think peace and security issues will be at the top of our agenda. Two days ago, I launched the peace process between the Ethiopian parties in South Africa. We hope (inaudible) to congratulate United States of America to have (inaudible) to make this process succeed. And we have a – we (inaudible) hope that this will lead to a ceasefire and opening a way to bring humanitarian support to those who are in need.
Of course, we are preparing very actively the African-United States summit in December in Washington. It’s a very good opportunity to (inaudible).
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Merci. Thank you, everyone

Source: US State Department