World needs climate change surge in 2021

THE global warming agenda has taken a lower profile for much of 2020 with the coronavirus crisis dominating political debate. However, 2021 could see a global climate surge which could yet reshape the international debate.

Leading the charge in 2021 is UN Secretary- General António Guterres. Over the weekend at the UK-hosted Climate Ambition summit for all countries to declare "climate emergencies", he warned "if we don't change course, we may be headed for a catastrophic temperature rise of more than 3 degrees Celsius this century" and urged all countries to move as quickly as possible to carbon neutrality to limit temperature rises to no more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

While many countries are pledged to the 1.5 degrees pledge, it is becoming harder to get there on current trajectories. The UN estimates, for instance, that carbon emissions must fall some 7.6 per cent annually through 2030 to keep the 1.5 degrees temperature cap in play, which will require a remarkable change in international behaviour in the next decade.