UN calls for Paris climate agreement signatories to go beyond existing commitments of decreasing emissions if they want to curb the disastrous consequences of future weather events.
UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction Robert Glasser says he accepts the fact that more than 160 nations have agreed to sign up for the Paris pact. He adds, however, that the world will be at a greater risk of being overpowered by the swift pace of global warming if leaders do not compellingly step up the level of their aspiration to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
The Signing Event
During the Paris conference in 2015, all participating countries gave their nod to limit global temperatures below two degrees Celsius and to maintain it at 1.5 degrees Celsius only.
To keep that vision in sight and at play, world leaders are expected to head to UN's headquarters in New York for the signatory ceremonies hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
According to the latest report, over 165 nations are set to sign the pact, putting it on top of the list of international agreements with the most number of nations to sign in just one day. The previous record was made during the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982, where there were 119 signatories.
The Power Of Signatures
A particularly powerful thought is that all of the world's biggest greenhouse gas producers and largest economies have expressed their desire to sign during the event.
The signatures will be the first step towards guaranteeing that the pact actually gets implemented at the soonest possible time.
Once the signatures are obtained, nations should make additional steps in the national level in adherence to the agreement.
More Than Just Inking A Deal
Glasser says weather and climate are involved in about 90 percent of disasters due to natural dangers.
Strong storms, droughts and other environmental events keep countries from progressing, thus shutting down government efforts of eliminating poverty and heightening previous risk levels.
With this, Ki-moon says this endeavor requires effort from everyone.
"Leadership from the top is crucial," he says. "But each of us has a role to play."
People should do what it takes to achieve the end goal. This may be done by conserving energy, reducing carbon footprints and piling up on sustainable investments, among others.
Small actions, multiplied by billions will lead to dramatic change, Ki-moon stresses.
