Ban Ki-moon, chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and eighth secretary-general of the United Nations, delivers a keynote speech at the Towards Carbon Neutrality: Governments in Action sub-forum on April 20, 2022. [Photo/boaoforum.org]

Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to take immediate action to protect the climate. Countries need to make more ambitious commitments to strengthen green action.

The 27th UN Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Egypt this year, will provide a good opportunity for countries to review carbon reduction progress and come up with stronger and more ambitious plans.

Climate justice is of prime importance. It is unfair that developing countries contribute the least to climate change, have the greatest climate risks and have the worst climate resilience.

Developed countries are obliged to provide financial and technical support to developing countries, including the pledged annual financial support of $100 billion. The United States currently has insufficient funds for climate matters.

Developed countries such as members of the European Union, the United States and Japan should firmly support developing countries, especially African countries and small islands in taking climate action.

Addressing climate issues offers all countries an opportunity for a green transition. Most countries are expected to be carbon-neutral by the middle of this century and their economic and industrial competitiveness will largely depend on how green they are. Therefore, all countries should make plans for a green transition as early as possible.