The president of the United Nations criticized that little progress is being made in the fight against climate change. Antonio Guterres questioned that global warming advances faster than negotiations to implement the goals of the Paris Agreement.

By José Díaz

Servindi, September 12, 2018.- A few days after the pre-COP24 climate summit held in Bangkok and on the opening day of the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS), the president of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, expressed his concern about the way are developing the global policies of struggle against climate change.

For the representative of the United Nations there is little time left for countries to act decisively against global warming and climate change. Guterres starting in recalled that 2020, the mechanisms established in the signature of the Paris Agreement in 2015 must be implemented, something that is still not entirely clear.

"If we do not change the direction by 2020, we run the risk of crossing the threshold at which we can avoid unbridled climate change, with disastrous consequences for human beings and all the natural systems that sustain us," said Antonio Guterres.

This statement comes after the failure of the pre-COP24 meeting that took place in Bangkok (Thailand) last week. In that event, a group of developed countries presented a proposal to reduce their economic contribution to the Green Fund and support for mitigation actions against climate change in developed countries.

The UN enraged

It seems that the United Nations is enraged by the position assumed by a group of wealthy countries, led by the United States. The lack of financial support for actions to fight against climate change will delay the implementation of the plans estimated in the Paris Agreement that should start running from 2020.

"I've heard the argument, usually from interested parties, that combating climate change is expensive and can hurt economic growth. This is stupid," said Antonio Guterres, who also emphasized the moral duty of the industrialized countries to support these ecological action plans.

In response to the position presented by the United States, which points out that investing in the Green Fund would generate an economic loss, Antonio Guterres affirmed that if the goals of the Paris Agreement are not met, productivity losses caused by global warming in 2030 they could grow up to US $ 2 trillion.

It may interest you

#WorldWaterWeek: Promoting sustainable irrigation by focusing on ecosystems → https://t.co/poUbrHL492 pic.twitter.com/28ag4T8ff4

— Servindi (@Servindi) 11 de septiembre de 2018