2 September 2008: Reacting to Hurricane Gustav and recent flooding in India, Achim Steiner, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director and UN Under-Secretary-General, released a statement underscoring the human and economic costs caused by weather events linked to climate change.
He called for urgent action on climate change, saying “nothing less than firm, legally binding […]
2 September 2008: Reacting to Hurricane Gustav and recent
flooding in India, Achim Steiner, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive
Director and UN Under-Secretary-General, released a statement underscoring the
human and economic costs caused by weather events linked to climate change.
He
called for urgent action on climate change, saying “nothing less than firm, legally binding commitments to
significantly reduce pollution linked with the burning of fossil fuels will
suffice alongside increased funding to climate-proof vulnerable economies and
communities.”
Noting that climate scientists warn of increased hurricane
intensity linked to increased ocean surface temperatures, he reiterated his
call for decisive action to “match the magnitude of the challenges.” [Text
of Achim Steiner’s statement]