Climate change and a global city: the metropolitan east coast regional assessment

The combined effects of higher temperatures and humidity in some regions could have dangerous consequences for human health in the next few decades. Ambition of emissions reduction pledges for 2030 needs to be seven times higher to meet the 1.5 ☌ goal of the Paris Agreement. These trends will continue if we do not act urgently to reduce fossil fuel emissions.

Cities, which contribute 70% of global emissions, are highly vulnerable to climate impacts. The past seven years were the warmest on record.

Fossil fuel emission rates are now above pre-pandemic levels. Greenhouse gas concentrations are continuing to rise, reaching new record highs. The science is unequivocal: we are going in the wrong direction. I urge all leaders to heed the facts in this report, to unite behind the science and to take ambitious urgent climate action. However, we need much more if we are to rise to the existential climate challenge. I am pleased that the World Meteorological Organization is developing a plan to ensure universal global early warning coverage within the next five years. Ensuring early warnings is essential to help people prepare for extreme weather events, droughts and other climatic impacts. Yet, many developing countries still lack such systems. A first necessary step, which is both quick and cost-effective, is early warning.Įarly warnings save lives and livelihoods from climate threats. We must also double investment in adaptation. We need a renewable energy revolution to bring down carbon emissions.

This year’s United in Science report shows that we are way off track. In the Paris Agreement on climate change, governments pledged to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees and to build climate-resilient communities. The answer lies in urgent climate action, yet we continue to feed our fossil fuel addiction and to compromise the livelihoods of future generations. Rapidly accelerating climate disruption means that no one is safe from disasters such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, extreme storms, wildfires or sea level rise. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

Climate change and a global city: the metropolitan east coast regional assessment