British politician Alok Sharma was speaking during a global discussion on the ‘green’ transition in sectors such as energy, transport and food systems, held as part of the 2021 Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He told the virtual meeting. “Unless we act now, the human, economic and environmental cost will dwarf anything that humanity has seen before.” COP26, which will be held this November in Glasgow, Scotland, aims to accelerate action towards the Paris treaty goals, which center around limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels by curbing greenhouse gas emissions. John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, called the conference “the last best opportunity we have to get real and serious.” He particularly urged developed countries to step up efforts to reduce emissions. “It is essential we raise ambition; we make Glasgow the next step in defining not what we’re willing to do but what we really need to do in order to be able to get the job done.”
By UN News. April 8, 2021.
