At a critical virtual summit on Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva engaged 17 national leaders from major economies and climate-vulnerable countries. This summit aimed to boost global climate action in the run-up to COP30, which Brazil will host.
The leaders participated in a two-hour closed-door session involving representatives from China, the European Union, the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and small island developing States. Guterres termed it one of the most diverse climate-focused meetings in recent times, conveying a strong, united message on the necessity for urgent climate action.
During the press briefing following the meeting, Guterres reiterated that “the world is moving forward. Full-speed ahead. No group or government can stop the clean energy revolution.” Various leaders committed to providing ambitious new climate plans, known as national determined contributions (NDCs), with Guterres calling this a “strong message of hope.”
Notably, Guterres highlighted an important commitment from President Xi Jinping, confirming that China’s updated NDCs would encompass all economic sectors and greenhouse gases — a step deemed as crucial for effective climate action. The Secretary-General emphasized that these pledges can pave the way for the next decade’s necessary transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Guterres acknowledged the significant drop in renewable energy costs, stating, “The clean energy sector is booming – creating jobs and boosting competitiveness and growth worldwide.” He emphasized that with the right policies, renewable energy stands as “the economic opportunity of the century,” fostering energy independence and security.
Despite the positive shift since the 2015 Paris Agreement, with warming projections reduced from over 4°C to about 2.6°C if current plans are executed, Guterres stressed that more is needed to meet the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. He urged nations to commit plans that support this target and reaffirm their dedication to net zero emissions by 2050.
A senior UN official positioned this summit as part of a larger strategy to maintain political momentum in a pivotal year for climate action, highlighting the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the imminent deadline for updated climate plans.
Additionally, Guterres called for increased support for developing countries, noting that regions most affected by climate change, like Africa and small island nations, are often the least responsible for global emissions. He advocated for a pathway to mobilize $1.3 trillion per year for developing nations by 2035 and urged a doubling of adaptation finance to $40 billion this year.
The Secretary-General also announced a forthcoming high-level UN event in September to evaluate the progress of nations’ climate plans and finance efforts ahead of COP30. Guterres reiterated a critical message: global leaders “cannot, must not, and will not let up on climate action.”
With this collective commitment and innovative solutions in motion, there is hope that the international community will continue to forge powerful actions to combat climate change effectively and create a sustainable future for all.
Leave a comment