| By Rosalind Mathieson
The world is focused on one global crisis, but another is erupting.
The immediate priority is Covid-19, as the delta variant sweeps through countries that had thought they were coming out of the pandemic but are now struggling to vaccinate people.
Even so, the most comprehensive report to date shows that climate change won’t wait for governments to get on top of the virus. A United Nations-backed panel of scientists warns the planet will warm by 1.5° Celsius in the next 20 years unless drastic action is taken now to eliminate harmful emissions.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls the report a “code red for humanity.”
As governments look to kick start their economies from the pandemic’s hit to growth, it’s natural to lean on things that get results fast: factories roaring back to life, fossil-fuel plants working at full tilt. So climate goals get pushed aside in the name of recovery.
It’s already clear going into the COP26 climate talks in November that there is significant disagreement on what action to take. A clutch of nations is dragging its feet on committing to specific targets for phasing out coal. Poorer countries argue richer ones should pay more to help the transition.
What is billed as a singular moment to tackle climate change risks turning into the communique equivalent of warm beer.
Yet if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the best way to deal with a crisis is to get ahead of it. Waiting only makes addressing climate change even harder down the road. And yesterday’s report unequivocally shows the road is running out.
Bloomberg
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