'Time is Up': Countries Trapped in Climate Crisis Raise Alarm at UN
Editor
24 September 2022 14:24 WIB
Climate Change Monster
Around the world on Friday young activists rallied for climate action, staging protests from New Zealand and Japan to Germany and the streets of New York to demand rich countries pay for global warming damage to the poor.
The protests take place six weeks before this year's U.N. climate summit, known as COP27, where vulnerable countries plan to push for compensation for climate-related destruction to homes, infrastructure and livelihoods.
"We renew our call to the world to declare total war on this century's greatest challenge: the climate change monster. And yet, after all these years, the world has failed to break our addiction to fossil fuels," Marshall Islands President David Kabua told the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the least responsible for climate change are suffering the most.
"The Philippines is a net carbon sink, absorbing more carbon dioxide than we emit. And yet, we are the fourth most vulnerable country to climate change," he told the U.N. gathering.
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres on Friday warned that the world is "not even close" to making enough progress on climate change, telling a meeting of Pacific Island leaders: "Those who did nothing to create this crisis are paying the highest price."
Guterres has also urged rich countries to tax windfall profits of fossil fuel companies and to use that money to help countries harmed by the climate crisis and people who are struggling with rising food and energy prices.
The United States and China are the world's biggest carbon emitters. In the fight against global warming, U.S. President Joe Biden warned at the United Nations this week: "We don't have much time."
Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama condemned the climate war as being fought with "apathy, denial, and a lack of courage to do what we all know must be done."
He appealed for the world to step up.
"Fiji is ready to make the coming years count for our people and for the planet – our question to you is this: Are you with us? Don't tell us yes unless you plan to show it."
REUTERS
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