New York, USA – World leaders meeting at the UNSG’s Climate Ambition Summit must urgently signal their intention to close the 1.5°C ambition gap by accelerating the phase out of fossil fuels and ending forest destruction. 

Mads Christensen, Greenpeace International Executive Director said: “Contrary to what President Trump just said, climate change is real, accelerating and threatens us all. Thankfully, the rest of the world knows that climate change is not a ‘con job’ and that the real danger is climate denialism and fake news – both of which are embedded in Trump’s rhetoric.

“The time to take action is now – in line with the science and the rapidly shrinking available carbon budget. People are demanding urgent action to deliver a safe world for their families and communities. As nations hedge their bets on what action to take and when, deadly heatwaves, floods and hurricanes will only escalate and worsen. [1]

The climate crisis will not pause or wait and there is no time to waste. Delayed or weak climate action plans are simply a recipe for climate catastrophe. In the anniversary year of the Paris Agreement it’s high time to hold polluters and nature destroyers accountable.

The recent International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion put countries on notice that they need to act to keep the world within the 1.5°C limit. World leaders must now uphold their moral, political and legal responsibility to take the required actions.”

ENDS

Notes:

1. Scientists find three years left of remaining carbon budget for 1.5°C: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news-global/news/article/5801/scientists-find-three-years-left-of-remaining-carbon-budget-for-1-5-c

Contacts:

Aaron Gray-Block, Climate Politics Communications Manager, Greenpeace International, [email protected]

Gaby Flores, Communications Coordinator, Greenpeace International, +1 214 454 3871, [email protected]

Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]