COP26: “We’re digging our own grave”, says UN Secretary-General

At the opening ceremony of the – COP26 World Leader Summit, the Secretary-General of the United Nations – António Guterres, during his address, cited that “we’re digging our own grave” and emphasized that the world needs to take immediate action from the moment against climate change.

The Secretary-General then cited various severe instances of how rapidly the earth is changing, adding, “due to our addiction to fossil fuels”, further noting that which is pushing humanity to the brink.

He further outlined the ways in which the world can keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal alive.

“I will establish a – group of experts to propose clear standards to measure and analyze net-zero commitments from non-state actors,” which will go beyond mechanisms already established in the Paris Agreement, Secretary-General cited.

“We face a stark choice – Either we stop it or it stops us,” following the statement he further noted.

Adding to his statement, the Secretary-General asserted that this is the high time to say “enough is enough of brutalizing biodiversity”, adding that, “Enough of killing ourselves with carbon. Enough of treating nature as a toilet. Enough of burning and drilling and mining our way deeper. We are digging our own graves”.

The Secretary-General concluded that this issue requires maximum ambition from all nations on all fronts to make Glasgow a success.

Several world leaders are participating in the climate conference (CoP 26), which is taking place in Glasgow.

On the other hand, welcoming delegates UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson emphasized the risk that inaction poses to the future generations, citing that, “If we do not get serious about climate change now, it will be ‘too late for our children to do so tomorrow”.

“We may not feel much like – James Bond, not all of us certainly look like James Bond, but we have the opportunity, and we have the duty to make this summit the moment when humanity finally began, began to defuse that bomb,” PM Johnson added.