A new UN report has cautioned that our planet will be warmer by more than 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of this century unless governments take extra steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
This is far beyond the 1 to 1.5 degree Celsius threshold agreed by the international community as part of the 2015 Paris agreement.
The report released just months ahead of November’s UN Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, highlights the growing pressure on global leaders to crack down on emissions to avert deadliest effects of climate change.
The developed countries are the biggest contributors to emissions and greater responsibility also rests with them to take requisite steps to check global warming.
It is however regrettable that pledges both in terms of cutting emissions as well as assisting the developing world are made but nothing practical is done on the ground to materialise them.
Almost over a decade ago, the rich countries had committed to mobilise $100b per year by 2020 to help vulnerable nations cut their emissions and cope with climate impacts. But what has been disbursed, mostly in form of loans, is just peanuts.
Climate change has emerged as the biggest threat to planet earth and the situation cannot be improved through half-hearted steps.
Corona Virus has seriously affected poor and developing countries and they cannot take on more debt for climate projects, and so, now more than ever, climate finance should take the form of grants over loans.
The rich countries will have to come in a big manner to protect the planet and future of our generations.
Especially those countries such as Pakistan that are making major strides through nature-based projects such as massive plantation of trees must be fully supported. Their capacity must also be strengthened to deal with calamities such as floods.
Most importantly, industrialist nations must lead efforts to switch from fossil fuel to clean and green energy.
