10 November 2017: As the UN Climate Change Conference enters its second week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a call for accelerating climate action and raising ambition, citing recent studies showing increasing levels of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. He called for progress in five ambition action areas: emissions reduction and carbon pricing, resilience building, finance mobilization, further action on partnerships, and enhanced leadership.

At a press stakeout, Guterres emphasized the urgency of intensifying climate action in light of the latest data published in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Bulletin and the UN Environment Emissions Gap Report. He also cited the latest US National Climate Assessment, pointing out that current temperatures are “the warmest in the history of modern civilization.”

Guterres emphasized that a further 25% cut in emissions is needed by 2020, as the opportunity to meet the target of limiting the global temperature increase to below 2°C above preindustrial levels “may close in 20 years or less,” and “we may have only five years to bend the emissions curve towards 1.5°C.”

Highlighting the role of the September 2019 Climate Summit in mobilizing political and economic energy at the highest levels, he called for world leaders to “show courage in combatting entrenched interests” and “wisdom in investing in the opportunities of the future.” [UN Press Release]