Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 9 August 2021

STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

ON THE IPCC WORKING GROUP I REPORT

ON THE PHYSICAL SCIENCE BASIS OF THE SIXTH ASSESSMENT

Today’s IPCC Working Group 1 Report is a code red for humanity.  The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable:  greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk. Global heating is affecting every region on Earth, with many of the changes becoming irreversible.

The internationally agreed threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius is perilously close.

We are at imminent risk of hitting 1.5 degrees in the near term. The only way to prevent exceeding this threshold is by urgently stepping up our efforts, and pursuing the most ambitious path.

We must act decisively now to keep 1.5 alive.

We are already at 1.2 degrees and rising. Warming has accelerated in recent decades. Every fraction of a degree counts.  Greenhouse gas concentrations are at record levels. Extreme weather and climate disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity. That is why this year’s United Nations climate conference in Glasgow is so important. 

The viability of our societies depends on leaders from government, business        and civil society uniting behind policies, actions and investments that will limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.  We owe this to the entire human family, especially the poorest and most vulnerable communities and nations that are the hardest hit despite being least responsible for today’s climate emergency.

The solutions are clear.  Inclusive and green economies, prosperity, cleaner air and better health are possible for all if we respond to this crisis with solidarity and courage.  All nations, especially the G20 and other major emitters, need to join the net zero emissions coalition and reinforce their commitments with credible, concrete and enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions and policies before COP26 in Glasgow.

We need immediate action on energy. Without deep carbon pollution cuts now, the 1.5-degree goal will fall quickly out of reach. This report must sound a death knell for coal and fossil fuels, before they destroy our planet.  There must be no new coal plants built after 2021.  OECD countries must phase out existing coal by 2030, with all others following suit by 2040.  Countries should also end all new fossil fuel exploration and production, and shift fossil    fuel subsidies into renewable energy.  By 2030, solar and wind capacity should quadruple and renewable energy investments should triple to maintain a net zero trajectory by mid-century. 

Climate impacts will undoubtedly worsen.  There is a clear moral and economic imperative to protect the lives and livelihoods of those on the front lines of the climate crisis.  Adaptation and resilience finance must cease being the neglected half of the climate equation.  Only 21 per cent of climate support is directed towards adaptation.  I again call on donors and the multilateral development   banks to allocate at least 50 per cent of all public climate finance to protecting people, especially women and vulnerable groups.  COVID-19 recovery spending must be aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement.  And the decade-old promise to mobilize $100 billion annually to support mitigation and adaptation in developing countries must be met.

The climate crisis poses enormous financial risk to investment managers, asset owners, and businesses.  These risks should be measured, disclosed and mitigated.  I am asking corporate leaders to support a minimum international carbon price and align their portfolios with the Paris Agreement.  The public and private sector must work together to ensure a just and rapid transformation to a net zero global economy.

If we combine forces now, we can avert climate catastrophe.  But, as today’s report makes clear, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses. I count on government leaders and all stakeholders to ensure COP26 is a success.

New York, 9 August 2021

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ILO

NEWS RELEASE

What if your pencil was a tool against forced labour?

50 countries have now ratified the Protocol on Forced Labour, demonstrating their determination to end forced labour in all its forms. They have committed to prevent forced labour, protect victims and ensure they have access to justice and remedies-Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO)

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In a bid to raise awareness on the negative effects of forced labour as well as concerted efforts required to eliminate the scourge,  the ILO under its #50forFreedom campaign in collaboration with Human Resources without Borders (RHSF) and  Cartooning for Peace,  launched a cartoon drawing competition under the theme:  What if your pencil was a tool against forced labour.  

The competition, launched on 10th March 2021 aimed to raise awareness on forced labour through striking images and visual messages that need little or no words.

More than 200 cartoonists from 65 countries took on the challenge of representing the invisible and complex realities of forced labour, submitting over 460 cartoons. Using diverse graphic styles and techniques, cartoonists delivered powerful messages that challenge us and encourage reflection. The stirring images depicted by global cartoonists are also a reminder for the public, policy makers and legislators to take action and curb the incidence of forced labour in all its forms.

The cartoons were judged by a prestigious jury made up of experts from the Alliance 8.7, activists and former victims of exploitation, as well as representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation, the International Organisation of Employers, the ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour, the US Department of  Labor, the ILO and RHSF. Special awards were also attributed by Cartooning for Peace and the public.

Ms Hira Kazmi, a cartoonist from Pakistan participated in the global competition and highlighted the injustice of forced labour through her cartoon. Under the Honourable Mention, the competition's jury distinguished submissions, including Ms Kazmi's cartoon, for their compelling portraits of the complex and invisible issue that is forced labour.

ABOUT THE ILO-RHSF CARTOON COMPETITION ON FORCED LABOUR

There are still 25 million men, women and children in forced labour today. As a consequence of the COVID19 pandemic, vulnerable workers and populations are at a greater risk of being trapped in forced labour. We all have a role to play to prevent forced labour and put an end to it.

In 2021, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Human Resources Without Borders (RHSF), in partnership with Cartooning for Peace, co-organised a cartoon competition to raise awareness, inspire action and emphasize the urgent need to eradicate this severe violation of human rights.

Cartoons are powerful tools: they can make complex messages understandable without using words and encourage people to reflect on sensitive topics. They can make us REFUSE, UNDERSTAND and TAKE ACTION against forced labour.

More details can be found at https://50forfreedom.org/cartoon/