UN Secretary-General stresses need for action against climate change

UN Secretary -General Antonio Guterres has spoken of the need to intensify action to combat climate change and implement the measures agreed by nearly 200 nations at the Paris Agreement to limit carbon emissions.

“If any government doubts the global will and need for this accord, that is reason for all others to unite even stronger and stay the course,” said Guterres.

His plea comes in the week President Donald Trump is due to make a decision on whether the United States is to abide by the accord, strongly supported by previous president, Barack Obama.

To date 147 countries have ratified the agreement to limit the global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celcius.

Guterres says the deal is historic, but needs to go further.

The Secretary-General plans to hold a climate summit in 2019 to review the implementation of the Paris Agreement.