A resident who has a child walks through the rubble of damaged homes after Hurricane Iota hit Providence Island, Colombia, on Saturday, November 21, 2020.
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Climate change poses the “most serious threats” to global peace and security, the UN Security Council will hear on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson must warn the UN Security Council that unless the world community takes “urgent action to tackle climate change, the world runs the risk of worsening conflicts, displacement and insecurity, “the government said in a statement.
The United Kingdom currently holds a one-month presidency of the Council, which is responsible for ensuring international peace and security. His The permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the USA. Johnson will address the group at 1:30 p.m.
Prior to the session, Johnson said the Council “has the task of addressing the most serious threats to global peace and security, and that is exactly what climate change represents … From the communities uprooted by extreme weather and famine, even warlords taking advantage of the resource struggle a warming planet causes insecurity. “
He added that “unlike many issues addressed by the Council, this is an issue we know exactly how to address” and that by helping vulnerable countries adapt to climate change and reducing global emissions to zero, “we will protect not only the generous biodiversity of our planet, but its prosperity and security “.
Renowned naturalist and television personality David Attenborough will also address the Council on Tuesday. He said in a statement released Monday afternoon that “if we reduce emissions vigorously enough, we can still avoid the turning points that will make fugitive climate change unstoppable.”
He said the next UN meeting on climate change, known as COP26, to be held in Glasgow in November, could be the “last chance to make the necessary step change”.
“If we objectively view climate change and the loss of nature as security threats around the world (as they really are), we may act proportionately and on time,” he said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Sudanese climate activist Nisreen Elsaim will also report to the Security Council on Tuesday.
Reporting before the session, the UK noted that “the impacts of climate change are already being felt around the world, with the effects of rising temperatures and extreme weather forcing population movements and creating competition “Of the 20 countries ranked most vulnerable to rising global temperatures, 12 are already in conflict.”
For its part, the UK has committed by law to achieving zero net emissions by 2050 and has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% by 2030, the strongest reduction of any important economy.
Along with the permanent members of the UN Security Council, there are 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. These members are currently Estonia, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam.
Global efforts to combat climate change are one of the priority goals of the international community, although environmental experts fear it will be too late to combat the problem.
The United States is the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases behind China. Under the administration of President Joe Biden, the country has officially rejoined the Paris climate agreement, in flagship pact between nations to reduce carbon emissions, after leaving former President Donald Trump.