UN Chief Executives Board appeals for more climate action
The leaders of 37 United Nations organizations called on their member states to "step up ambition and take concrete action" to limit global temperature increase from climate change. Their call for "changes on an unprecedented scale at all levels" was issued from the UN Chief Executives Board (CEB) meeting, which held its biannual session in Geneva on 9 and 10 May.
The leaders of 37 United Nations organizations called on their member states to "step up ambition and take concrete action" to limit global temperature increase from climate change. Their call for "changes on an unprecedented scale at all levels" was issued from the UN Chief Executives Board (CEB) meeting, which held its biannual session in Geneva on 9 and 10 May.
"We call upon Member States to take urgent action to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that climate change mitigation is a moral, ethical and economic imperative," said the declaration.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is represented in the CEB through its Secretary-General Petteri Taalas, who gave a special introductory briefing on the State of the Global Climate on 9 May. Mr Taalas also serves as Chair of the Science Advisory Group to the September 2019 Climate Action Summit. This is convened for September 2019 with the aim of boosting ambition and action to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
"Whilst acknowledging the progress and decisions adopted by individual UN organizations we are committed to strengthening our support by mobilizing scaled-up climate finance, facilitating technology transfer and capacity building, to enable Member States to raise ambition in their nationally determined contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 and reaching the goal of zero net emissions in 2050; and to achieve sustainable development co-benefits that will make a difference in the lives of all peoples," said the Chief Executives Board.
"We call upon Member States to ensure that appropriate adaptation measures are taken to protect people, livelihoods and ecosystems, particularly people in those regions most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change including those at risk through forced displacement and migration. We urge Member States to identify and build adaptive capacities and solutions in vulnerable communities and ecosystems and devote the maximum available resources and support to the progressive realization of the economic, social and cultural rights of all persons to ensure that no one is left behind."
The full statement "Joint Appeal from the UN System to the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit" addresses action in (i) Mitigation, (ii) Adaptation, (iii) Finance, (iv) Innovation, as well as (v) the UN itself and is available from the United Nations web site.