The Brazilian representative at COP26 Climate Champions, Daniela Lerario, warned this Thursday (21) that the fulfillment of the goal of an average increase of 1.5ºC in the planet’s temperature, proposed by the Paris Agreement, depends on actions in this decade. Lerario was one of the participants in the event “COP26 on the agenda: what is news”, held by Suzano for journalists.

The event aimed to debate themes that should be highlighted in the press during the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26), which will take place in Glasgow.

The Brazilian representative at Climate Champions explained that 2021 is a decisive year for the climate agenda, due to projections published in the most recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The document demonstrates the planet is likely to reach or exceed 1.5 °C of warming in the next two decades – sooner than in previous assessments.

“Limiting warming to this level and avoiding the most severe climate impacts depends on actions this decade. For this reason, COP26 works with four pillars: mitigation, reduction, finance and multilateral engagement”, she explained. “The importance of the Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 during COP21, and the individual commitment of each country through the NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution), was essential for the beginning of the transition from a ‘dirty’ economy to a clean and green economy,” he said.

Champions for the weather

Daniela Lerario also took the opportunity to talk about the Race to Zero (“Race to Zero”) campaign by the Climate Champions of the United Kingdom and Chile, Nigel Topping and Gonzalo Muñoz, respectively.

The High-Level Climate Champions, of which Daniela is the representative for Brazil, is a campaign by the United Nations Climate Change, which wants to bring leaders from various segments to join the largest coalition of leaders committed to one goal: reduce to zero net gas emissions greenhouse effect until 2050. The initiative brings together countries, cities, companies, investors, academia and civil society as a whole.

“In just over a year, Race to Zero has become the gold standard for the commitments made to reduce carbon emissions. The campaign brings the coalition of all areas in a clear and fair way, in line with the Paris Agreement and with the short-term objective and transparent plans”, she explained.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the campaign grew by 190% across all types of actors. Currently, there are more than 6,300 members in 110 countries.