World is on an unsustainable climate trajectory: minister

Minister Sherry Rehman says climate change 'biggest challenge of 21st century'

ISLAMABAD:

Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman expressed her concern on Sunday over the ongoing global climate crisis, warning that that it was becoming clearer with the passage of every passing day that world was on an unsustainable trajectory.

In a statement on the International World Environment Day that world meteorological department had already reported a dangerous 50-50 chance of average global temperature rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next five years.

“This isn’t just a warning, but a glaring reality being overlooked by the largest contributors to the climate crisis,” she said. “It becomes clearer every day that the world is on an unsustainable trajectory.”

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The minister stressed that the United National Environment Programme (UNEP) recognised the triple threat of climate change to human health and prosperity. She stressed the need for a collective global action.

“The recent multilateral meetings have made a series of action pledges at the global level to reduce GHG [greenhouse gases] emissions by the end of the century to control the rising temperatures to pre-industrial levels,” the minister said.

“However, the roadmap to such goals has become blurred,” she said. “There is an urgent need for a collective action. The transformative change required shift in the world views and values, and an investment into green energy.”