Thousands of world leaders and change-makers are gathered for two weeks in Katowice, Poland, to define a tangible way forward for global climate action. UN News’s highlights of the day:
STORY OF THE DAY
Four things the UN chief wants world leaders to know, at key COP24 climate conference opening
During the UN COP24 Climate Change Conference grand opening on Monday, Secretary-General António Guterres told over 150 world leaders gathered for climate action that “we are in deep trouble” and asked decision-makers to focus on four key things: stepping up climate action, according to a solid plan, with more funding, as a smart investment in the future of the planet.
“May Katowice be the symbol of audacity, courage and decision-making to do the right thing in these times of climate emergency.”
– Maria Fernanda Espinosa,
President of the UN General Assembly,
in her COP24 opening remarks
A GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION
Renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough announced the launch of a new UN campaign to enable individuals the world over to take action today against climate change. The ActNow.Botwill guide you through every small, yet significant, step.
VIDEO OF THE DAY
Messages from the world’s citizens to COP24 decision-makers
produced by the UNFCCC Secretariat
SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY
CATCH UP WITH THE SCIENCE BEHIND COP24:
The discussions at COP24 are based on several reports issued in 2o18.
These are the top five:
Limiting global warming to +1.5˚C is still possible… but will require bolder and faster action– a report by the IPCC
For the first time in four years, CO2 emissions are on the rise globally – a report by UNEP
Greenhouse gas levels in atmosphere broke another record in 2017 – a report by WMO
Bold climate action could deliver at least US$26 trillion in economic benefits through to 2030 – a report by the New Climate Economy, launched at the UN.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
The Terminator becomes the Climate Activator: On the sidelines of COP24, the Climate Action Hub was launched, with the former Governor of the US State of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the head of the UN Climate Change Convention Secretariat, Patricia Espinosa. Speaking to a packed crowd, Mr. Schwarzenegger said “today’s dialogue is not about promising or setting new goals, it is all about action”. Noting that California managed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent this year, he added: “That’s what I call action”.
