COP27: UN chief calls for zero tolerance against greenwashing

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In order to win the battle against climate change, it is essential to have zero tolerance for greenwashing, according to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who was speaking at the ongoing COP27 summit. Commitments to net-zero carbon emissions cannot be reduced to a purely public relations exercise.

“We must have zero tolerance for net-zero greenwashing,” said the Secretary-General. He made the remarks at the launch of a put out by Net-Zero Expert Group.

Greenwashing is when a company misleads the public to believe it is doing more to protect the environment than it is actually doing.

Calling the report a how-to guide to ensure credible, accountable net-zero pledges, he explained that it provides clarity in four key areas — environmental integrity, credibility, accountability, and the role of governments.

“Solving the climate crisis requires strong political leadership. I urge all government leaders to provide non-state entities with a level playing field to transition to a just, net-zero future,” a United Nations statement quoted the Secretary-General as saying.

Since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015, there have been more net-zero promises and pledges made by the business and financial sectors, as well as municipal governments.

In an effort to build on prior accomplishments and prepare the way for effectively combating global climate change, the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, also known as COP 27, will hold its 27th session in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 to 18.

The backdrop of multiple extreme weather occurrences, including typhoons in Bangladesh, huge floods in Pakistan, dry rivers in China, and droughts in Africa, among others, will make this year’s COP27 conference even more important.