Sharjah24 – WAM: With the global population now at eight billion and growing, action or inaction by the world’s largest economies, the G20, will be critical to determine if everyone gets to live on a peaceful and healthy planet, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at a press conference in Bali, Indonesia, on Monday.
Speaking on the eve of the G20 Summit there, the UN chief appealed for the bloc to support his initiatives to address climate change, sustainable development, the worldwide food and energy crises, and digital transformation.
The Summit is taking place at “the most pivotal, precarious moment in generations”, he told journalists.
Geopolitical divisions are sparking new conflicts, and making old ones hard to resolve, while “people everywhere are getting hit from every direction” by climate change and the rising cost of living.
“The G20 is ground zero for bridging divisions and finding answers to these crises and more,” he said.
As climate change is “the defining challenge of our age”, the Secretary-General reminded these countries that they produce 80 per cent of all global emissions.
He has proposed creating a Climate Solidarity Pact, bringing together developed and emerging economies to combine resources and capacities to benefit everyone on the planet.
He said it would see wealthy nations and international financial institutions provide funding and technical assistance to support emerging economies in accelerating their transition to renewable energy.
The deal will help end dependence on fossil fuels while providing universal, affordable, sustainable energy for all.
“G20 leaders can make or break the Climate Solidarity Pact that I intend to present again tomorrow. Under this pact, they would make extra efforts this decade to keep the limit of 1.5 degrees alive,” said Mr. Guterres, referring to the goal to cap global temperature rise.
Developing countries are also unable to access finance needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include reducing poverty and hunger and investing in healthcare and education.
“The SDGs are issuing an SOS,” he warned. “I therefore urge G20 economies to adopt an SDG stimulus package that will provide governments of the Global South with investments and liquidity, and offer debt relief and restructuring. “
Mr. Guterres noted that a majority of the G20 countries are on the boards of multilateral development banks “and so they can and must make it happen.”
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