The United Nations Warns of “Catastrophic Rise” in Temperatures

Simon Stiell, the chairman of the United Nations Climate Change Committee, announced that humanity has made significant progress in combating global warming, but it remains on a “catastrophic rise” trajectory in temperatures.

Technical negotiations began on Monday in Bonn, Germany, lasting two weeks, in preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, in November.

Stiell stated that without negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change since 1992, “we would be facing a scenario where global temperatures rise by an average of 5 degrees, a world where the majority of humanity may not be able to survive.”

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change added, “At present, we are heading towards an increase of about 2.7 degrees Celsius.”

Addressing diplomats from around 200 countries, he said, “This trajectory is still catastrophically high, and we have a long way to go to achieve our common goal of 1.5 degrees this century,” which is the most ambitious target of the Paris Agreement.

Discussions will continue until June 13th at the UN Climate Headquarters in Bonn.

Stiell said, “Climate action must move much faster.”

Diplomats gather in June of each year in Bonn to resolve the most difficult issues in international climate negotiations, so that political leaders can reach agreements at the end of the year’s conference of parties.

This year, the main question revolves around money: How much should wealthy countries pay to help developing countries abandon fossil fuels and confront climate change?

In 2009, wealthy countries, historically the main contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, committed to providing $100 billion annually by 2020.

This goal was achieved for the first time in 2022.

The twenty-ninth Conference of Parties must conclude with an agreement on a post-2025 goal, but there is no consensus on the amount or destination of the funds.