United Nations Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres warned on Friday that the upcoming United Nations Climate Change
Conference (COP26) may not be able to provide the necessary boost to fighting climate
change that many across the globe are hoping for. Speaking to the media ahead
of the G20 Summit, Guterres said, “There is a serious risk that Glasgow will
not deliver”.

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The chief of the multilateral body further
said that leaders of the Group of 20 wealthy nations must do more to help poorer
countries battle climate change. He added that despite update climate targets
by several countries “we are still careening towards a climate catastrophe.”

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Guterres added that there are “serious
questions” about some of the pledges and added that collectively the efforts
won’t be enough to keep global temperature rise below 2°C, the target set by
the United Nations talks on fighting climate change.

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Antonio Guterres further said that the G-20 leaders
in Rome, whose countries are responsible for most of the world’s greenhouse gas
emissions have an opportunity to “put things on track” for the Glasgow talks,
which will begin after the Rome Summit ends.  

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Addressing the media, the UN security council
chief added that there were dangerous levels of mistrust between nations and he
hopes that the G-20 Summit will do its bit to overcome some of the tensions.

He further called upon the G20 to fund
impoverished nations via debt relief and bolster vaccination drives in poorer
countries as the COVID-19 pandemic has already amplified existing inequalities.
“This is immoral,” Guterres said adding that rich economies should keep their
longstanding commitment to provide $100 billion dollars annually to help
developing nations tackle the impact of climate change.

“Unfortunately, the message to developing
countries is essentially this, the cheque is essentially this, the cheque is in
the mail. On all our climate goals, we have miles to go. And we must pick up
the pace,” said Guterres.