GOAL 13 – CLIMATE ACTION

The climate crisis continues unabated as the global community shies away from the full commitments required for its reversal. The year 2019 was the second warmest year on record, and, while being at the end of the warmest decade (2010-2019) recorded, it has brought fires, hurricanes, droughts, floods and other climate disasters across every continent. Global temperatures are on track to rise by 3.2 ° C by the end of the century. To reach the maximum target of 1.5 ° C – or even 2 ° C – as per the Paris Agreement, greenhouse gas emissions must start decreasing by 7.6% every year starting from 2020. However, Despite the drastic reduction in activities due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the resulting 6% drop in emissions projected for 2020 falls short of this target and emissions are expected to increase as restrictions are lifted.

If the world does not act now, the catastrophic effects of climate change will be far greater than those of the current pandemic. Governments and businesses should use the lessons learned and take up the opportunities that have arisen from this crisis to accelerate the changes needed to achieve the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. It is crucial that we redefine our relationship with the environment and bring about systemic and transformative changes to become economies and societies with low greenhouse gas emissions and resilient to climate change.