During a virtual ministerial meeting convened by the Government of Japan on the sustainable recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, Guterres noted that the world is facing two urgent crises: COVID-19 and climate change.
"Let's address both and leave future generations with the hope that this moment will be a true turning point for people and the planet ," the Secretary said at a meeting attended by officials from several countries, as well as representatives of youth groups, civil society organizations, businesses and local governments.
Alongside the event, a website was launched outlining climate and environmental policies and measures related to COVID-19 recovery. The site will help promote COP26, the United Nations conference to assess progress on climate change, which will be held in 2021.
Cheaper and more efficient renewable energies
During the meeting, the Secretary-General outlined six climate measures aimed at a sustainable recovery: investing in green jobs; not bailing out polluting industries; ending fossil fuel subsidies; taking climate risk into account in all financial and regulatory measures; working together; and – most importantly – leaving no one behind.
Guterres pointed out that governments and companies are moving closer to these positions when they understand that clean energy generates more jobs, cleaner air, better health and stronger economic growth.
"The world's major investors—including some from Japan—are abandoning fossil fuels because renewable energy is cheaper and more efficient." They "understand that it makes no economic sense to burn money on coal-fired power plants that will soon become stranded assets ," he said.
The UN chief also called on all countries, especially the members of the G20 - the group of the most industrialized nations - to commit to implementing carbon neutrality before the year 2050.
Japan can become a world leader
Guterres recognized Japan's extensive technological development in many sectors and stressed that the Asian nation can become a world leader in sustainable and resilient recovery.
Therefore, he asked the Asian country to stop investing in coal-fired power plants and to increase its participation in renewable energy.
"I sincerely hope that Japan ends investment in coal-fired power plants, commits to carbon neutrality before 2050, establishes a transition to eliminate domestic use of coal, and significantly increases the share of renewable energy," he reasoned. .
Prevent future emissions to combat climate change
For her part, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Patricia Espinosa, stressed that the combination of COVID-19 and the climate crisis provides the opportunity to “recover from the pandemic and, at the same time, build a better future”.
"Preventing the spread of the coronavirus was the most effective approach to the pandemic, so preventing future emissions is the most effective method to tackle climate change ," he said.
Espinosa highlighted the importance of carrying out a coordinated global effort and urged all countries to "embrace the strength of multilateralism" to recover from COVID-19, advance the climate change agenda and build a more sustainable future.