Archie Lappin, Thanapum Poolsem & Jemima Lappin
Thailand
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqBk-BH__vY&w=500&]
Even though governments committed to keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees, we are on track to a world 3 degrees hotter. After Paris more oil and coal mining went ahead. What would you do to make sure countries take action to stop catastrophic climate change?
Ms. Helen Clark’s answer
As UNDP Administrator I have been involved in the discussions that led up to the Paris Agreement on restricting global warming, and in my current role I am concerned about the way climate change is making it harder to achieve development in many regions. As Secretary-General I would see it as my responsibility to do my utmost to ensure that countries meet their commitments to reducing emissions so that the world can come as close as possible to controlling global warming within the agreed temperature range.
Mr. Miroslav Lajčák’s answer
Climate change is the most significant challenge to achieving sustainable development. It has impact on security, social and economic stability, migration, and global health. It is no surprise that half of the new development goals are climate related. The SG should effectively engage with member States to support the early entry into force of the Paris Climate Agreement. S/he can mobilize the political support of countries at global level and help build strong partnership to fight global climate change.
Businesses and investors also have to put climate change risks at the center of their corporate strategy. Many have already done so and I would promote this issue relentlessly.
Dr. Igor Lukšić’s answer
Climate change is a fundamental issue today, one that needs to be addressed globally in a concerted and ambitious way. A successful, new approach to global cooperation on climate change, resulting in agreeing and signing the Paris Climate Agreement, confirmed once again countries’ commitment to transform the global economy to low-emission, thus ensuring climate-resilient growth of our societies. As of today, 178 countries have signed the Paris Agreement. There is a need to undertake urgent and comprehensive actions to meet the new climate targets. The implementation of the Paris Agreement will be a challenge for whole UN system and will require participation of all actors at both the national and international level. Next Secretary General should encourage countries to work together to implement newly agreed climate commitments in order to reduce the impact of climate change and achieve a sustainable future for the next generation. In addition, next Secretary General should ensure that UN is more efficient, effective and relevant in supporting countries to deliver not only on new climate commitments, but as well on SDGs and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Dr. Danilo Türk’s answer
The first task is to secure the broadest possible ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate change. This comes at the time when many UN programs and activities are focused on awareness raising. This will have to continue. In addition to the necessary political work, the UN will have to address practical problems such as the problem of carbon subsidization. This type of priorities will likely grow in importance as the issues of adaptation to consequences of climate change gain an even higher level of priority status. The follow up conferences to Paris Conference of 2015 will have to address these issues and as Secretary – General I shall make specific recommendations in due course.