What developing countries need to reach net zero

Rich countries should fulfil their promises of supporting poorer countries’ efforts to mitigate climate change.

The recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that the planet will warm by 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2040 unless urgent measures are taken to eliminate greenhouse-gas emissions. After the report’s release, UN Secretary-General António Guterres aptly called it “a code red for humanity.” Global warming is becoming an increasingly urgent problem, and all countries have a role to play in combating it. But as government officials from around the world prepare to set sustainability targets at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow next month, they cannot ignore developing countries’ economic distress.