ActionAid responds to UN Secretary General’s statement

Yesterday, Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted that all countries must act to stop climate change, and support communities already feeling the impacts. But not all countries have the same level of responsibility.

Brandon Wu, Director of Policy & Campaigns for ActionAid USA, said: “The Trump administration is on the wrong side of the history – but so are rich governments that recognize the climate crisis, yet have refused to address it in a serious way. Wealthy countries, and the United States in particular, bear the greatest responsibility for causing, and so also for fixing, the climate emergency. 

“The Trump administration has made clear that they will do no such thing. But others in the U.S. recognise the need for urgent action from the United States. Young people sparked the Green New Deal, the most far-reaching climate policy the U.S. has ever seen, which polls show has broad public support.

“Climate change demands unprecedented international cooperation to solve. People on the ground around the world are leading mass movements to demand a just solution to the crisis.”

Representatives from across the ActionAid federation will be in New York to follow developments around Climate Action Week, including supporting the 20 September Climate Strikes. They are available for comments, interviews and briefings. More information is available at www.actionaid.org/climatejusticenow 

Contact: Kate Donovan, ActionAid, kate.donovan@actionaid.org  Cell and text: +17183620606
 
ActionAid
ActionAid is a global movement of people fighting for women’s rights, social justice and an end to poverty. An international federation of 45 countries, we work with climate-affected communities around the world, and have over a decade of experience in monitoring global climate negotiations.