BAKU: “Climate change is a major and pressing concern for all people around the world,” Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), stated at the Parliamentary Meeting jointly organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the framework of COP29, APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Simon Stiell emphasized the critical role that parliaments can play in supporting concrete steps to improve the lives of citizens. He highlighted the urgency of climate action, noting that current efforts are significantly lagging behind what is necessary. Stiell warned that the planet is on a trajectory for a temperature rise between 2.6 and 3.1 degrees, far exceeding the target of limiting the increase to 1.5 degrees to avoid unprecedented disasters. He referred to severe natural events such as hurricanes Beril, Milton, and Helene, as well as recent floods and heatwaves, as evidence of the escalating
impact of climate change.
Stiell stressed the importance of closing the gap between current actions and the required measures. He called for plans that facilitate increased action and policies that empower individuals to contribute more effectively. He also pointed out that ambition alone is insufficient, underscoring the necessity of bridging the implementation gap to achieve tangible outcomes in combating climate change.