28 September, Pakistan: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday that Pakistan, which suffered from devastating floods a year ago, is a litmus test for climate justice.
“There is nothing natural about a disaster on this scale, or about the fires, storms, and droughts wreaking havoc elsewhere,” he told a General Assembly briefing on the Pakistan floods, stressing that the shift to renewables is imperative.
Carbon emissions are heating the planet, killing people, destroying communities, and devastating economies. Some countries claim they cannot afford to cut emissions. The truth is that no one can afford climate breakdown, he said. “Fossil fuel-based energy systems are a political decision. And those decisions must change.”
Guterres called on donors and international financial institutions to make good on their commitments and put the money they have promised for Pakistan on the table as soon as possible.
