MANILA/SAN FRANCISCO — Super Typhoon Mangkhut, one of the strongest storms of the year, is forecast to hit the north of the Philippines by the weekend before threatening Hong Kong and Macau. In the Atlantic, Hurricane Florence made landfall on the US east coast on Friday and is growing larger. Although its wind speed has decreased, Florence is still expected to pour record rains through Monday.
Speaking from the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) in San Francisco, Greenpeace International Executive Director Jennifer Morgan said:
“We have arrived at the moment of truth. Climate change is here and it’s big and dangerous. Super Typhoon Mangkhut and Hurricane Florence are the latest grim examples of the dangers the changing climate might pose. But let’s not forget there is still hope, and the IPCC’s special report on 1.5 degrees must guide our response. The question is, who will take up the reigns of climate leadership and take the action that’s needed? We have no time to waste.
“It is critical that this summit sends a powerful signal about what climate leadership, in 2018, truly means. Our climate is changing and the future dangers scientists warned us about are here and now.
“We’ve lost precious time through denial and insufficient action from political leaders and companies and we’re now running up against the clock. We’re at the 11th hour and in urgent need for climate leadership and action before it truly is too late.”
Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director Yeb Sano said:
“Super Typhoon Mangkhut is again a severe CAT5 storm eerily close to the force of Haiyan, forecast to hit the country’s top rice and corn producing provinces at a time when rice harvest has barely started, and when the country is already reeling from rice shortages. Fiercer and fiercer storms and droughts threaten us now yearly. Running away from super storms, counting the dead, picking up the pieces, rising from the rubble, rebuilding homes, and rehabilitation of communities have become a way of life for us.
“But we refuse to accept this, and our Climate Justice and Human Rights [1] case against the big polluters is our way of telling the world that we will not take this injustice sitting down, the fossil fuel industry can never hide. Those least responsible for climate change suffer its worst impacts, while the fossil fuel industry remains wealthy, powerful, and unaccountable. Inaction has led to this situation, and unfortunately, nations have not come anywhere near the promises they made in Paris. Justice must be served.”
Greenpeace USA Executive Director Annie Leonard said:
“Hurricane Florence is expected to pour record rains on the Southeast coast of the United States as this Global Action Climate Summit unfolds in California. It’s a stern reminder for our elected officials that to show real leadership on climate, they need to implement plans for a just and managed transition off fossil fuels now. Trump has consistently left communities impacted by major hurricanes to fend for themselves. It’s time to hold him and other climate denying politicians accountable for the unwillingness to take action in favor of our communities.”
