UNITED NATIONS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday launched a high-level expert group on net-zero emissions commitments of non-state entities.

The expert group will make recommendations before the end of the year addressing four areas: current standards and definitions for setting net-zero targets; credibility criteria used to assess the objectives, measurement and reporting of net-zero pledges; processes for verifying progress toward net-zero commitments and decarbonization plans; and a roadmap to translate standards and criteria into international and national regulations.

The group of respected and independent experts is gender-balanced and geographically diverse, with deep experience across government, business, the global financial system, civil society and academia, he said.

The climate crisis is getting rapidly worse. Despite growing pledges of climate action, global emissions are at an all-time high and they continue to rise, said Guterres.

"If we don't see significant and sustained emissions reductions this decade, the window of opportunity to keep (the goal to limit future warming to) 1.5 (degrees Celsius) alive will be closed, and closed forever. And that will be disaster for everyone," he said.