UN Head Stresses Need for Greater Speed to Achieve Carbon Neutrality

United Nations – Although more Governments and businesses are committing to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the world is still falling far short of that goal, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday.

In his latest push for a cleaner, greener future, UN chief reported that so far, the European Union, Japan and the Republic of Korea, along with more than 110 other countries, have made the pledge, while China is set to join them by 2060.

“That means 50 per cent of the world’s GDP and half of global CO2 emissions are now covered by a net zero commitment. And the number of net-zero commitments from companies has more than doubled in the past year to over 1,100. Yet, we are still far from where we need to be,” he said in a video message for the opening of the Race To Zero Dialogues, part of a global campaign that mobilizes businesses, cities, regions and investors to support net zero carbon emissions.

“Our goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Today, we are still headed towards three degrees at least,” he added.

The Race To Zero dialogues, which began on Monday in a virtual format due to the Covid-19 Pandemic would have marked the start of the latest UN climate change conference, known as COP26.