"Only 2 Years Left to Save the Earth," Warns UN Climate Change Chief

The UN climate chief has warned that there are only two years left to save the planet in response to climate change.

On the 11th (local time), US media Axios and others reported that Simon Stiell, Secretary-General of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), made this statement during a speech at the British think tank Chatham House the previous day.

He emphasized, "We must achieve the goals set in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change," adding, "The next two years are crucial for saving the Earth."

Earlier, the international community agreed through the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change to limit the global average temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century.

Accordingly, 195 parties voluntarily set national greenhouse gas reduction targets (NDCs), and must submit new national greenhouse gas reduction targets (NDCs) for 2035 by 2025.

However, Secretary-General Stiell pointed out that under the current circumstances, "emissions will hardly be reduced by 2030," and insisted that "stronger plans must be developed as soon as possible."

Specifically, he highlighted the need to reduce the use of fossil fuels. He said, "Investing only in clean energy infrastructure without measures to accelerate the reduction of fossil fuels is not enough," and added, "Demand-side measures such as carbon pricing are necessary to reduce fossil fuels more rapidly."

He also explained, "Reducing pollution from fossil fuels means better health and cost savings for both governments and households."

Furthermore, he emphasized the participation of ordinary citizens. He pointed out, "The two years to save the world are given to everyone on Earth," and noted, "More and more people are feeling the impact of the climate crisis in their daily lives." He encouraged not only governments and those in power but also ordinary citizens to take climate action.