Bali, 15 November 2022 (TDI): United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG), Antonio Gutteres, addressed the press conference at the G20 summit yesterday.
This G20 conference “comes at a vital time,” according to UNSG. “The most critical and precarious time in recent generations is upon our planet.”
The target of keeping the increase in global temperature to 1.5 degrees is fading. Both global temperatures and emissions are rising.
Climate Solidarity Pact
UNSG thus proposed a historic agreement between developed and emerging economies. This is called the Climate Solidarity Pact, which combines their resources and capabilities for the good of all.
As 80 percent of world emissions are caused by G20 nations, so, the Climate Solidarity Pact’s future depends on the G20 leaders.
Secretary-General underscored that the G20 nations would step up their efforts this decade to maintain the 1.5-degree target under this agreement.
Richer nations and international financial institutions would offer financial and technical support to aid emerging economies to switch to renewable energy.
Sustainable Development
Moreover, this agreement can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels while supplying accessible, universal energy for everyone. Secondly, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the 2030 Agenda can be served.
UNSG further added that “I urge the G20 economies to approve an SDG stimulus package. This will offer debt relief and debt restructuring, as well as investments and liquidity to governments in the Global South.”
In addition, this will make it possible for developing nations to spend money on renewable energy, healthcare, and education. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must be maintained while making investments in their people.
Furthermore, the food and energy challenges as well as the digital revolution of economies and societies will be the main topics of Antonio Gutteres’ speeches at this summit.
Meanwhile, he underlined, more needs to be done to improve the worldwide fertilizer shortage. Many of the barriers to market access have been eliminated as a result of the interaction with the European Union, the US, and the UK.
Regarding energy, the conflict in Ukraine has shown the risks associated with fossil fuel addiction. It is the strongest justification for switching to renewable energy.
Antonio Guterres urged the adoption of international technological safeguards. He also offers a strategy based on a Global Digital Compact for an open, free, secure, and inclusive internet.
Additionally, UNSG said that “we must consider the future as we welcome the eighth billion people to our growing human family today. The world’s population will be close to ten billion by 2050.”
In the concluding remarks, he said “whether every member of our human family has a chance to live. Sustainably and peacefully in a healthy world will depend on the G20’s decision to act or not to act.”
