begin partial quote from:
https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-18-22/index.html
6 min ago
War in Ukraine is "a wake-up call" to fix global energy system, says UN chief
From CNN's Angela Dewan
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced a plan to speed up the world's switch to renewable energy, saying that the war in Ukraine was a wake-up call for the globe to ditch fossil fuels.
Speaking at the launch of the World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Global Climate 2021 report, Guterres described the findings as “a dismal litany of humanity’s failure to tackle climate disruption.”
“The global energy system is broken and bringing us ever closer to climate catastrophe. Fossil fuels are a dead end -- environmentally and economically,” he will say, according to prepared remarks.
“The war in Ukraine and its immediate effects on energy prices is yet another wake-up call. The only sustainable future is a renewable one. We must end fossil fuel pollution and accelerate the renewable energy transition, before we incinerate our only home,” he said, adding “time is running out.”
In his plan, Guterres proposed:
- 1. That renewable energy technologies, such as battery storage, be treated as “essential and freely-available global public goods.” He called for a global coalition on battery storage to fast-track innovation and deployment, driven by governments and bringing together tech companies, manufacturers and financiers.
- 2. To secure, scale up and diversify the supply of critical components and raw materials for renewable energy technologies.
- 3. Governments must build frameworks and reform bureaucracies to level the playing field for renewables.
- 4. Governments must shift subsidies away from fossil fuels to protect the poor and most vulnerable people and communities.
- 5. Private and public investments in renewable energy must triple to at least $4 trillion dollars a year.
Baltic states endorse Finland and Sweden for NATO membership
From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite
The leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania endorsed "the historic decisions" by Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership in a joint statement on Wednesday.
"Finland and Sweden share the same values that bind the NATO Allies together, and share our commitment to the principles that constitute the foundation of Euro-Atlantic security," the leaders said.
"The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO will enhance our collective security and strengthen the Alliance."
The statement was made by Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krišjanis Karinš, and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
"The Baltic States together with Finland and Sweden share the responsibility for peaceful, secure, and prosperous Nordic Baltic region," they said.
"In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the NATO's role as a defensive Alliance that strives for peace, security, and stability in the whole of the Euro-Atlantic has become even more important. We are looking forward to working together with Finland and Sweden within the Alliance to achieve these goals."
Finland and Sweden hand in applications to join NATO
From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite
Finland and Sweden have handed in their applications to join NATO, the military alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday.
"The applications you have made today are an historic step. Allies will now consider the next steps on your path to NATO," Stoltenberg said after receiving the applications from the Finnish and Swedish ambassadors at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
"The security interests of all allies have to be taken into account and we are determined to work through all issues and reach rapid conclusions."
Stoltenberg made the comments alongside Klaus Korhonen, the ambassador of Finland to NATO, and Axel Wernhoff, the ambassador of Sweden to NATO.
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