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Elders group of global leaders call on govts. to take action on climate change as critical step to achieve Sustainable Development Goals
"Elders Statement on Climate Change", 18 Jul 2016
As the countries of the world meet this week to discuss progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leaders must back up words with action on climate change...Climate change matters to every aspect of the new development agenda. Without action to reduce carbon emissions and increase resilience, development cannot be sustainable. That is why action on climate change is critical to the achievement of the SDGs and must be central to discussions in New York this week...As things stand, The Elders have two major concerns:
- None of the top 10 emitters of greenhouse gases have ratified the Paris Agreement;
- Leaders are still making investment decisions that run contrary to the Paris Agreement.
As well as ratifying the Paris Agreement, we call on them to:
- Deliver urgent action to lower emissions...
- End fossil fuel subsidies and invest in the low carbon economy...
- Put a price on carbon...
- Support developing countries’ efforts to take part in the transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient development...