UN chief calls for immediate global action to avert climate ‘catastrophe’

KABUL (Pajhwok): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for immediate global action to avert climate ‘catastrophe’.

Gutters made the remarks during a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York following a meeting with civil society climate leaders from across the globe.

The UN chief on Thursday called on countries to phase out coal and other fossil fuels to avert climate “catastrophe”, saying the world’s response to deal with the impending disaster was “inadequate”, Associated Press reported.

He said limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is still possible but will require a 45 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.

However, current policies will lead to a 2.8°C temperature rise by the end of the century, which “spells catastrophe”.

He called for immediate global action toward net-zero emissions, which “must start with the polluted heart of the climate crisis: the fossil fuel industry.”

aw/sa