C 149/34
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
28.4.2023
Thursday 20 October 2022
V. whereas in 2020 Global Witness recorded the murders of 227 land and environmental defenders, 71 % of whom were working to defend the world’s forests from deforestation and industrial development, while others died for their work protecting rivers, coastal areas and oceans; whereas in 2020 violence against land and environmental defenders was overwhelmingly concentrated in countries in the Global South and less than 1 % of all recorded lethal attacks were documented in the Global North; whereas between 2015 and 2019 over a third of all fatal attacks targeted indigenous people, even though indigenous communities make up only 5 % of the world’s population (17);
1.
Recalls that the climate and biodiversity crises are among the most important challenges facing humanity and that all governments and actors worldwide must do their utmost to overcome them urgently, treating the two crises as closely intertwined; underlines that international cooperation, the involvement of regional and local governments, businesses as well as other non-state actors, solidarity, a just transition, coherent action underpinned by science and an unwavering commitment to ramping up ambition and aligning policies with this ambition are necessary to fulfil our collective responsibility of limiting global warming and preventing biodiversity loss, and thus safeguard the entire planet and the well-being of current and future generations;
2.
Expresses concern at the findings of the UNEP’s emissions gap report 2021 and of its addendum published on 4 November 2021, in particular that, despite more ambitious climate pledges announced ahead of and during COP26, predicted emissions leave the world on a path to a 2,7 oC temperature rise if announced national 2030 climate targets are fully implemented in combination with other mitigation measures, far beyond the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global warming to well below 2 oC and pursuing 1,5o C; is alarmed that emissions are still rising and the emissions gap is widening; stresses that limiting global warming to 1,5 oC requires rapid, deep and sustained reductions in global GHG emissions, including reducing global CO2 emissions by 43 % by 2030 compared to 2019 levels; recalls that by adopting the Glasgow Climate Pact all Parties recognised that limiting the increase in the global average temperature to 1,5 oC above pre-industrial levels would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change;
3.
Underlines that according to the UNEP’s emissions gap report 2021 the reduction of methane emissions from the fossil fuel, waste and agriculture sectors could help close the emissions gap and reduce warming in the short term, but emphasises that in order for that to happen there is an urgent need for rules that are clearly defined and aim to achieve actual reductions in emissions, while being supported by arrangements to track progress and provide transparency;
4.
Highlights the growing number of countries committing to net zero emissions goals by mid-century but underlines that these commitments must be urgently translated into robust short-term targets, policies and actions, backed by financial resources and reflected in revised NDCs in the form of increased 2030 climate targets in order for global emissions to peak as soon as possible; concurs with the UNEP in its assessment that many national climate plans delay action until after 2030 and that many of the long-term net-zero emissions pledges contain large ambiguities and lack of transparency;
5.
Notes with deep concern the WMO’s latest State of the Climate report, which shows that four key climate indicators — sea level rise, ocean heat, ocean acidification and GHG concentrations — broke new records in 2021;
(17)
Global Witness, ‘Last Line of Defence, The industries causing the climate crisis and attacks against land and environmental defenders’, September 2021 https://www. globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/environmental-activists/last-line-defence/