IPCC Chair Dr. Hoesung Lee
IPCC Bureau members and experts, distinguished delegates
I am very pleased to address the resumed 53rd session of the IPCC, which is taking place about one year after we last met in Paris. Since then, we have all been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation has been and continues to be incredibly difficult for everyone. Lives have been lost; families destroyed; the economic foundations eroded and so much more. At this time when many nations find themselves re-entering lockdown, it is clear that the journey ahead will continue to be long and complex.
We at UNEP stand in solidarity with everyone struggling to cope with the physical and mental burden. Even for those of us lucky enough to still have our health and jobs, it is hard to bear. But it is important that we keep going because other forces such as climate change, biodiversity loss or pollution did not abate while our societies suffered temporary lock-downs and slow-downs.
So we must keep going because it is only solidarity and science that will bring us out of this harrowing pandemic. To combat the disease, we all have a responsibility on the solidarity front – whether it comes to development assistance or whether it comes to vaccines — as well as on the health science front. And in parallel, science, as well as solidarity on the climate front, will be critical to navigating the planet to a safe harbour for long-term sustainability.
Indeed, this is where your work at the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change can show us the way. Your work is not just central to resolving the climate crisis. Your work is a critical element to addressing the nature and pollution crises as well. Your work is central to creating a healthy natural world that can protect humanity against future pandemics, lift people out of poverty, deliver equity and create green and vibrant economies.
I say this because we at UNEP, view the three planetary crises — the climate crisis; the biodiversity and nature crisis; and the pollution and waste crisis —as inter-connected. Many of the drivers are common, particularly unsustainable consumption and production. The solutions to one crisis are often solutions or solution elements to the others. This is why it is so important, —and it is a point I will continue to stress—, that the conventions on climate, biodiversity, land and pollution must work more closely together.
Friends,
The pandemic has affected IPCC authors, experts, bureaus, technical support units and the Secretariat. But here you are, nonetheless. Thank you for all of your work in these difficult circumstances. And here I would like to express my deep sorrow at the loss of Dr. Gemma Teresa T. Narisma, an author for the 6th Assessment Report. I express my deep condolences to her family.
You are resuming your work this week to take stock of the progress made by authors on the 6th Assessment Report. To discuss the strategic response to the impacts of the pandemic. To review the principles guiding the IPCC’s work.
I am delighted that you have done so, in particular with regard to the 6th Assessment Report. This critical piece of science cannot be delayed any further. It is too important. This report provides the foundation and the impetus, to drive global climate action. We need this action now, more than ever. We need your help because of the influence of your work on global climate science.
As UNEP’s 2020 Emissions Gap Report found, the world is still heading for a temperature rise in excess of 3°C this century. This despite a brief dip in emissions as a result of the pandemic, and despite all commitments made under the Paris Accord made so far.
However, if governments invest in climate action as part of pandemic recovery and turn new net-zero commitments into strengthened pledges at COP26, followed up with swift and time-bound action, they can bring emissions to levels broadly consistent with the 2°C goal and with greater ambition and faster action, we can still stretch for the 1.5°C
The 6th Assessment Report can help by giving new momentum to coordinated and ambitious action by governments, businesses and people around the world. And it can lend more momentum to the fight to restore nature and biodiversity and contribute to reducing deadly air pollution. So, I am very pleased that you are trying your utmost to finalize the Assessment Report with minimal delays.
Friends,
Please allow me to say a few words on what UNEP is doing to support your work.
I am pleased to confirm that in accordance with my pledge in Paris last year, we at UNEP increased our contribution to the IPCC Trust Fund from last year. But this is only one element of our support. Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization and I get regular updates on IPCC matters and on the work of the secretariat. And I am delighted to observe the smooth collaboration and leadership in the IPCC Secretariat. Petteri and I continue to explore ways to continue to strengthen our support to the modestly sized Secretariat and to increase its efficiency.
On our side, we at UNEP commit to continue working together with IPCC community to find ways to get climate science to a broader community. We were pleased to do so with the Making Peace with Nature report, launched by the UN Secretary-General. As you may know, this report lays out the gravity of Earth’s three planetary crises through a unique synthesis of findings from major global assessments, including those of IPCC. I take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent contributions and reports which were essential to the overall success of the Synthesis report.
Finally, I would like to again commend and congratulate the IPCC leadership, bureau members, authors and experts. You are lending your time and expertise to minimize disruption and deliver the sixth Assessment Report while preserving its credibility and scientific quality. This is no mean feat. You are providing a valuable service not just to the governments, businesses and investors who must act on your science, but to every person across the globe impacted by climate change. We find ourselves at a pivotal moment in human history. We are investing unprecedented monies to kickstart our economies and protect jobs. These stimulus packages which are essential, us borrowing from future generations, must be guided by climate science. So that we move towards a resilient, just and climate-safe future for all people on this planet.
I wish you a successful session this week and thank you for resolve to get the job done.
Thank you.
Executive Director
