Guterres at G7 Summit: “Not enough and clearly off track”

In the city of Hiroshima, Japan, where the G7 members convened to renew their pledges toward global issues, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres sounded an alarm: “Rich countries cannot ignore the fact that the vast majority of countries worldwide are suffering through a deep financial crisis,” he declared. Guterres also stressed the climate responsibilities that wealthy nations bear, noting that despite some progress, efforts to combat climate change remain insufficient and off track.

Rich countries cannot ignore the fact that the vast majority of countries worldwide are suffering through a deep financial crisis.

The world is counting on #G7 economies to demonstrate global leadership and global solidarity.https://t.co/Q7FIIxYX2t pic.twitter.com/tH8dYvjlbq

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 21, 2023

This message finds backing in the UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2022, which states that even with updated national pledges post COP26, we fall significantly short of the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C. Current policies, as per the report, forecast a temperature increase of 2.8°C by the end of the century, while fulfillment of existing pledges would only reduce this to a rise between 2.4-2.6°C. The report calls for an urgent, system-wide transformation to meet the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030: 45 per cent for 1.5°C and 30 per cent for 2°C. This would entail an overhaul in sectors like electricity supply, industry, transport and buildings, as well as food and financial systems.

Guterres also urged speeding up the phasing out of coals, calling on the G7 to phase out coal completely by the year 2030. This goes beyond energy transition, but also about climate justice for developing countries who have contributed the least to the climate crisis, but are already suffering the effects of the crisis today.

Adding his voice to the climate conversation was Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA). He emphasized the importance of ensuring a swift and secure path to net zero emissions. He lauded the strides being made in clean energy deployment globally and underscored the need to guard against energy security risks that could jeopardize the progress being made. Birol’s remarks stand as a reminder that while progress is possible, unwavering and amplified commitment is essential to drive it forward.