UN climate action summit aims to boost ambition of fighting climate change: envoy
Xinhua
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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The forthcoming UN 2019 Climate Action Summit aims to increase the level of ambition to combat climate change, Luis Alfonso de Alba, special envoy for the summit, said Tuesday.

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(Photo: UN)

De Alba told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that the Paris Agreement on climate change is a very important framework, but the level of ambition of member states needs to be raised further because "we are still quite below compared to what is needed to keep the temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius."

The envoy highlighted "political will," "ambition" and "action" at the press conference, noting that action outdoes all in the fight against climate change.

The level of commitment and the political will are still "low," which "is something that worries us and concerns us," said the envoy.

"We need to continue to work with all member states, and we need to encourage them to be part of the solution," he said, noting that "we need to recognize that the political will is not as high as it should be."

"That's probably the main reason to host this summit," the envoy added.

Noting that no country has so far withdrawn from the Paris Agreement although the United States announced the withdrawal decision two years ago.

"The withdrawal can only happen in 2020 because that was envisaged as they entered into the treaty," he said.

De Alba said the Paris Agreement has won support from the global community with more countries ready to ratify the pact very soon.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is going to "sound the alarm of urgent action" at the forthcoming climate summit, to be held on September 23, when world leaders assemble at the UN headquarters in New York for the general debate of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly. Enditem