An outlook for 2023: The starting position
What will 2023 bring us from a climate perspective? The record year of extreme weather worldwide and here in Central Europe included record heatwaves, extreme drought, flood disasters and forest fires. Conditions that cost many people their lives, deprived many of their possessions, turned many into refugees and drove many further into poverty. What can we expect in 2023?
"Both the G20 summit and the World Climate Conference in Egypt still committed to the 1.5 degree target, but that is ridiculous. We are on course for 2.5 to 3 degrees and global emissions are still rising. That's why it's pure stubbornness to stick to the 1.5 degree target, even though we know full well that we won't achieve it."
"This year I visited Pakistan, the Sahel and other places affected by the climate crisis.I saw first-hand that world leaders are not doing enough to tackle the climate emergency.said Antonio Guterrés, UN Secretary-General.
At the World Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheik, Guterrés warned the decision-makers present:
"We are fighting the fight of our lives. And we are about to lose."
We are heading towards tipping points where there is no turning back. All countries must accelerate the necessary transformation, he continued. In 2023, we will all need to work together much harder to counteract this fatal development.
Otherwise, no one need be surprised that the next generation will become despondent and resort to ever more drastic measures to shake us up and get us to take real, meaningful action. NOW.
