Today the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC, which makes clear the catastrophic impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways. The Special Report raises the global warming alarm bell to the highest level and calls upon the global community to take concerted action now if we are overcome the threat of climate change, eradicate poverty, and preserve the sustainable development achievements of the last 25 years. Climate Change has truly become the defining issue of our time, as stated by UN Secretary General Guterres recently.
The 28 Member countries of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) have demonstrated strong leadership in answering this call to action through their commitment to green growth as the model of development that will guide their transition to low-carbon, climate resilient and socially inclusive economies. Fifteen GGGI Member countries have already committed to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050 or earlier, while our developing Member countries have developed national green growth strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement commitments. It is encouraging that the green economic growth movement is expanding rapidly with another 30 countries on the path to become GGG I Member countries.
The science hasn’t changed. As has been said before and as this report again demonstrates: governments, investors, the private sector and citizens all need to take urgent action to avoid the catastrophic consequences of climate change. Innovations in renewable energy, electric mobility, green cities and climate smart agriculture have high potential, but their uptake needs to be scaled up urgently. At the same time, the natural capital on which we all depend needs to be protected, stopping deforestation, rehabilitating degraded landscapes, regaining blue skies, and cleaning up our lakes, waterways and oceans.
In pursuit of these critical goals, GGGI commits to remain a strong partner to its Members and partners through the development of targeted green growth policies, development of bankable green investment projects, and the mobilization of green and climate finance. The IPCC Special Report makes clear that while decarbonization of society is urgent, we must also step up action on adaptation to increase our resilience to the climate change that, particularly, poor people in developing countries already suffer from today. We are pleased to serve as Chair and Adviser, respectively, of the new Global Commission on Adaptation that will be launched in the Hague on October 16.
2015’s Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement were a monumental achievement. The IPCC’s Special Report is a stark reminder that the global community must now step up to deliver global solutions that ensure a green, climate resilient future for generations to come.
Ban Ki-Moon
President of the Assembly and Chair of the Council
Frank Rijsberman
Director General
Download a copy of the press release here with contact details HERE