The Time Is Now

Context: Bold climate actions should be taken before the Conference of Parties 26 (COP 26) of the United Nations to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Steps taken so far to deal with the climate crisis:

• Commitment to achieve net-zero emissions: Countries making up about two-thirds of the global economy have committed to do so by mid-century.
• Paris Agreement: Countries committed to set their own national climate action plans and strengthen them every five years. 

Way forward: Bold climate actions to stop the climate crisis from becoming a permanent catastrophe.

• Everyone should commit to achieve net-zero emissions: Every country, city, business and financial institution should adopt concrete plans for transitioning to net-zero by 2050.
• Create new national plans: For cutting global greenhouse gas pollution by at least 45 % by 2030 compared to 2010 levels.
• Phase out coal from the electricity sector: Global coal use in electricity generation must fall by 80 % below 2010 levels by 2030.
  • Developed economies must commit to phase out coal by 2030, and other countries must do this by 2040.
  • Just transition must be ensured by supporting workers in impacted industries and the informal sector and by unleashing the vast power of women and girls to drive transformation.
• Developed countries should provide $100 billion as committed annually by:
  • Doubling current levels of climate finance.
  • Devoting half of all climate finance to adaptation.
  • Stopping the international funding of coal and shifting subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
• People should raise their voice for taking action to address climate change, protect biodiversity, stop humanity’s war on nature and accelerate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.