Over 70 leaders determined to address climate change despite Covid-19

NEW YORK, Dec 13 (KUNA) -- More than 70 leaders from around the globe have renewed commitment to working together for a better climate despite challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Seventy-five leaders, at the conclusion of the virtual "Climate Ambition Summit Saturday evening, said climate change was on top of their agenda as they were marking five years since the 2015 Paris climate treaty.
The summit - co-organized by the UN, Britain and France - brought together presidents, heads of government, business community and civil society representatives.
Summiteers showed how science was crucial in climate change and how important it was to join hands to prevent temperature from exceeding 1.5 degrees.
A final statement by the summit showed a growing ambition in addressing climate change.
It said pledged made before the summit showed nations which generated around 65 percent of Carbon dioxide and represented 70 percent of the global economy, would commit to reaching zero emissions or neutralize impacts of carbon by early 2021.
These pledges, it said, should be matched with concrete action.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned summiteers failure to address climate change would have devastating effects.
He said the world should stop its assault on planet earth, and that the globe was not moving in the right direction five years since the Paris accrod.
Guterres called on world leaders to declare a state of climate emergency until they neutralize impact of Carbon.
The European Union pledged to reach zero emission by 2050. China said it would reach this target before 2060. (end) asf.bs