A resident holding a child walks past debris from damaged homes after Hurricane Iota struck Providencia Island, Colombia, on Saturday, November 21, 2020.
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The UN Security Council will hear on Tuesday that climate change is the “biggest threat” to global peace and security.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson must warn the UN Security Council that the world is in danger of worsening conflict, displacement and insecurity unless the global community ‘takes urgent action to tackle climate change’.
The United Kingdom currently holds a one-month presidency of the Council, which is charged with ensuring international peace and security. His permanent members are China, France, Russia, the UK and the US Johnson will address the group at 13:30 in London time.
Before the session, Johnson said that the Council’s task is to confront the greatest threats to global peace and security, and that is exactly what climate change represents … From the communities uprooted by extreme weather and famine, to warlords minting hitting from the scramble for resources – a warming planet drives uncertainty. ‘
He added that ‘unlike many issues the Council deals with, this is what we know exactly how to address’ and that we will not only protect abundant biodiversity by helping vulnerable countries adapt to climate change and global emissions to to reduce net zero. of our planet, but its prosperity and security. ‘
Well-known naturalist and TV personality David Attenborough will also address the Council on Tuesday. He said in a statement issued late Monday, “if we reduce emissions with enough power, we can avoid the tipping points that will make the runaway climate change unstoppable.”
He said the forthcoming meeting of the UN’s climate change, known as COP26, which would take place in Glasgow in November, could be the ‘last chance to make the necessary step change.’
“If we view climate change and the loss of nature objectively as security threats worldwide – as it indeed is – then we can still act proportionately and in a timely manner,” he said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Sudanese climate activist Nisreen Elsaim will also notify the Security Council directly on Tuesday.
In the letter before the session, the UK noted that ‘the effects of climate change are already being felt around the world, with the effects of rising temperatures and extreme weather forcing population movements and competition over increasingly scarce natural resources. Of the 20 countries ranked most vulnerable to rising world temperatures, 12 are already in conflict. ‘
The UK has committed to achieving legal net emissions by 2050 and has promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% by 2030 – the strongest reduction of any major economy.
In addition to the permanent members of the UN Security Council, ten non-permanent members are elected for two years. These members are currently Estonia, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam.
Global efforts to tackle climate change are high on the agenda for the international community, although environmentalists fear that too little is being done to tackle the issue.
The US is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world behind China. Under President Joe Biden’s government, the country has now officially rejoined the Paris climate agreement, a an important agreement between countries to reduce carbon emissions, after former President Donald Trump was left behind.