Developing countries are paying a “horrific price” for the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this on a visit to Pakistan. That country has been hit hard by flooding after monsoon rains attributed to climate change.
Guterres hopes his visit will provide support for Pakistan, which needs at least €10 billion to repair damaged infrastructure. “Pakistan and other developing countries are paying a horrific price for the intransigence of major polluters who continue to bet on fossil fuels,” Guterres said in a tweet, shortly before visiting some of the hardest hit areas.
Watch the video message Guterres himself shared on social media below:
“From Islamabad I make a worldwide appeal: Stop the madness. Invest in renewable energy now. End the war against nature.”
Quote
This is collective suicide
“I have never seen such a climate disaster. It really is a bloodbath,” said Guterres. “This is unimaginable. I’ve seen humanitarian disasters all over the world, but never a climate massacre of this magnitude,” said the UN Secretary-General.
madness
Guterres complained yesterday about the world’s lack of attention to climate change — especially in the industrialized countries that are responsible for the vast majority of historic CO2 emissions. “This is madness, this is collective suicide,” he said.
Pakistan has seen twice as much rain as usual since June. As a result, about a third of Asian land is under water —an area the size of the United Kingdom. There are few dry areas of land, especially in the south and west. More than 33 million people have been affected by the flooding, about 15 percent of the Pakistani population. According to the latest balance, nearly 1,400 people have already died, including more than 450 children. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced.
Bridges and roads have been destroyed and an estimated 1 million houses have been damaged or destroyed. According to the Pakistani government, the reconstruction will cost at least 10 billion euros. Pakistan annually experiences heavy, often devastating, rains during the monsoon season. Precipitation is crucial for agriculture and water supply. But downpours as severe as this year have not been seen in decades.
Antonio Guterres
@antonioguterres
“Climate catastrophe of the decade”: Pakistan is under water (but it’s not just the climate’s fault) (+)
UN installs airlift to Pakistan to reach flood victims
Northern hemisphere hit hard this summer by the effects of global warming
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.