Climate change concerns raised at UNGA, leaders urged not to ignore it amid COVID-19

While COVID-19 pandemic has continued to dominate 75th United Nations General Assembly, some world leers also ackwledged alarming climate change situation that world w finds itself in. ting that environmental degration will prove to be a greater catastrophe in long run, leers echoed that if COVID-19 doesn’t end world, "climate change will.”

While Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said world is witnessing a version of “Environmental Armddon”, Alliance of Small Island States and Least Developed Countries Group said, “In ar 75 years, many... members may longer hold seats at United Nations if world continues on its present course.” 

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Fiji PM h also cited devastating wildfires in United States that have taken hundreds of lives along with loss of glaciers that amounts greater than many islands. According to Bainimarama, 2020 was meant to be year world leers “took back our planet” but unprecedented global health crisis diverted focus as well as resources. Meanwhile, in wake of COVID-19 pandemic, UN global climate summit has been postponed to 2021 and climate activists including Greta Thunberg have resumed protests. 

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Ice melting will increase sea-level irrespective of Paris goals

While main goal of 2015 Paris climate accord is to limit rise in global temperature to 2 degrees Celsius, researchers have found out that world has warmed up ar 0.9 degrees Celcius. A recent study even revealed that melting Antarctic ice sheet will end up increasing sea levels by at least two and a half metres even if goals of 2015 Paris Accord are met by countries.

Researchers have said that Antarctica is “committed to becoming virtually ice-free” and in some instances, se losses will grually become irreversible leing to disappearance of many coastal cities and cultural herit sites. 

study said, “In particular, West Antarctic Ice Sheet does t regrow to its modern extent until temperatures are at least one degree Celsius lower than pre-industrial levels. Our results show that if Paris Agreement is t met, Antarctica’s long-term sea-level contribution will dramatically increase and exceed that of all or sources.”

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Inputs/Im-Representative: AP