UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Thursday that some Pacific territories face "annihilation" from climate-induced cyclones, ocean heatwaves and rising sea levels. On a visit to Samoa, he said the fate of Pacific islands depended on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Nearly 200 nations agreed to strive for that target in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, but UN estimates indicate that the world is not on track to achieve it. "High and rising sea levels pose an enormous threat to Samoa, to the Pacific and to other small island developing states, and these challenges demand resolute international action," Guterres said. The Pacific region contributes just 0.02 percent of global carbon emissions, he noted. "Yet you are on the front lines of the climate crisis, dealing with extreme weather events from raging tropical cyclones to record ocean heatwaves," the UN secretary-general continued. "Sea levels are rising even faster than the global average, posing an existential threat to millions of Pacific Islanders," he added. Guterres urged richer nations to live up to their commitments to help pay for the consequences of climate change in developing countries. He also called for international action to tackle the impact of climate change, overfishing and plastic pollution on the Pacific Ocean. Source: Qatar News Agency
Related Posts
Lebanese resistance targets Israeli enemy sites
Beirut, The Lebanese National Resistance continued on Monday to target Israeli enemy sites and barracks with appropriate weapons, achieving direct hits.
‘In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant…
Ehsan Concludes 7th Research and Innovation Competition by Honoring Winners
Doha: In cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and Lusail University, the Center for Empowerment and Care of the Elderly (Ehsan), an affiliate of the Ministry of Social Development and Family’s (MSDF) Qatar Social Work Founda…
Prisoners: The injured detainee, Kazem Zawahra, has a complex and difficult health condition
Ramallah – Ma’an – The Prisoners’ and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs Authority and the Prisoners’ Club said that the injured detainee, Kazem Zawahra (31 years old), from Bethlehem, is in a complex and difficult health condition, and is connected to artificial …