The United Kingdom is calling for urgent global action in response to a United Nations report published on Monday on the science of climate change, that says the planet has warmed more than previously estimated. This latest report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a stark warning from scientists around the world that human activity is damaging the planet at an alarming rate. The report warns that climate change is already affecting every region across the globe and that without urgent action to limit warming, heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and loss of Arctic Sea ice, snow cover and permafrost, will all increase while carbon sinks will become less effective at slowing the growth of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It highlights that cutting global emissions, starting immediately, to net-zero by mid-century would give a good chance of limiting global warming to 1.5C in the long term and help to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Commenting on the UN report, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "Today's report makes for sobering reading, and it is clear that the next decade is going to be pivotal to securing the future of our planet. We know what must be done to limit global warming — consign coal to history and shift to clean energy sources, protect nature and provide climate finance for countries on the frontline." The UK is leading the way, decarbonizing our economy faster than any country in the G20 over the last two decades. I hope today's IPCC report will be a wake-up call for the world to take action now before we meet in Glasgow in November for the critical COP26 summit. As extreme events are felt across the globe, from wildfires in North America to floods in China, across Europe, India and parts of Africa, and heatwaves in Siberia, COP President Alok Sharma has been negotiating with governments and businesses to increase global climate ambition and take immediate action to help halve global emissions in the next decade and reach net-zero emissions by mid-century in order to keep the 1.5C goal set out in the Paris Agreement within reach. The UK is already showing leadership with clear plans to reduce its emissions by 68 percent by 2030 and 78 percent by 2035, leading to net-zero by 2050. Today, more than 70 percent of the world's economy is now covered by a net-zero target — up from 30 percent when the UK took over as incoming COP Presidency. In May, all G7 countries came forward with 2030 emission reduction targets that put them on a pathway to reaching this goal by 2050. Some progress has been made globally since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015. More than 85 new or updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to 2030, representing over 110 parties, have been submitted to set out how countries will cut their emissions and address the climate crisis. However, today's report shows that more action is urgently needed.
