As part of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-31), UN Secretary-General António Guterres proposed that governments enter into a 'climate justice pact.' The core idea of the document is to support developing nations that suffer the greatest consequences of the ecological crisis while contributing minimally to its causes.
Fuel Extraction Taxes and Four Pact Priorities
To implement the initiative, Guterres proposed introducing taxes on companies engaged in fossil fuel extraction. The resulting funds should be directed toward assisting countries most affected by climate change. According to the Secretary-General, current efforts to combat warming are lagging behind the pace of the crisis itself.
The proposed pact is based on four key pillars:
- Accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels while simultaneously expanding the use of renewable energy sources and protecting the interests of industry workers.
- Protecting vulnerable populations through early warning systems and rapid disaster relief.
- Ensuring affordable financing: fulfilling commitments by wealthy nations and increasing investment in developing economies.
- Strengthening international cooperation.
The UN Chief also warned of serious risks: even if all existing national plans are fully implemented, the planet's temperature could rise by more than 2.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.
Context
The COP-31 conference is being held in the Turkish city of Antalya. António Guterres serves as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, which is headquartered in New York.
