New York: To fight global catastrophe by lowering the greenhouse gas emission, leaders across the globe gathered at the UN climate action summit, in order to meet the collective goal of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, by committing to cut these emissions three times more than current efforts. 

Global leaders gather at UN climate action summit

According to reports, at the UN climate action summit in New York, leaders gathered to discuss current plans on September 23, that would lead to a rise in average global temperatures between 2.9C and 3.4C by 2100, a shift likely to bring catastrophic change across the globe. 

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Coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization, according to a science report, it is still possible to lower the gap and control the global heating to a safe level, but for such results, we must make urgent shifts in commitments and actions. The time period between 2015 to 2019 is on track to be on average 1.1C hotter than pre-industrial times and the warmest of any equivalent period on record. 

According to a report many changes linked to the temperature rise, including long-lasting heatwaves, record-breaking wildfires, declining sea ice and glaciers, cyclones, floods, and drought, have hit sooner and harder as compared to the previous decade. Keeping the summit in light, UN secretary-general António Guterres said the world was fraying and needed international cooperation more than ever. He also added that they have no time to lose.  

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Demonstration held by Greta Thunberg

In the recent unprecedented global demonstration held on Friday, Millions of people attended and demanded urgent actions to deal with the global catastrophe, a movement started by Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg. The timing of the protest was planned timely in order to put direct pressure on the leaders gathering for the climate summit, which is being held ahead of the annual UN general assembly. 

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Leaders from about 60 countries are scheduled to speak at the summit, including India’s Narendra Modi, Germany’s Angela Merkel, and Britain’s Boris Johnson. The summit was held in order to introduce new commitments that will help the globe come closer to meeting the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global heating to at least 2C, and as close to 1.5C as possible, compared with pre-industrial levels. In the summit, the leaders also discussed the requirement to cut emissions by 45% by 2030, end fossil fuel subsidies and ban new coal plants after 2020. 

According to a report from the International Energy Agency, emissions from coal power rose 2.9% in 2018 and account for nearly a third of global carbon dioxide pollution. Also, it has been found that emissions from coal power would need to peak next year and fall to zero by 2040 if the world is to meet the Paris goals.

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