Summit catapults world ahead in crucial year to curb warming
The world moved closer to curbing the worst of global warming following this week's climate summit. But there's still a long way to go, and the street to a safer future gets even rockier from here. With the world trying to avoid a lot more than another half-degree of warming (0.3 degrees Celsius) roughly to attain the most stringent of goals set by the 2015 Paris climate accord, scientists and politicians alike say this decade is vital for any chance of getting that done. And which means 2021 is a "make-or-break year for individuals and the planet," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
Everything culminates in November with heavyweight climate negotiations in Glasgow, Scotland. While these climate meetings happen annually, every five roughly years you will find a weightier session of the sort that in the past has resulted in major deals or disappointments. It's that point again. By November, the UN climate negotiating process calls for 200 nations to ratchet up commitments to cut emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases by 2030.
The rich countries have to come up with more money to help the indegent countries develop greener power and adapt to climate change's harsh realities. And nations have to agree on a cost on carbon pollution after many years of gridlock. They need to figure out essentially learning to make it all work.
"Glasgow may be the world's last best hope," said U.S. special climate envoy John Kerry.You will see important stops in Germany in May for a minister's level meeting, in a British seaside town in June for a meeting of leaders of big economies and a final push at U.N. headquarters in September, but everything is approximately what President Joe Biden called "a road which will take us to Glasgow."
