By Abbas Nazil
United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell has warned that climate change has become a global health emergency, urging governments to accelerate electrification and renewable energy investments to protect lives, livelihoods and economies.
Stiell made the remarks at the opening of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, on Monday, calling on countries to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the transition towards cleaner energy systems.
He warned that continued reliance on oil, gas and coal would expose households, businesses and governments to persistent energy price shocks, particularly amid growing disruptions to global energy supplies.
“For too many people, climate change is deadly,” Stiell said, stressing that governments must make decisive choices about the future of global energy systems.
“At this COP, nations face a choice: electric or shock. Rewire the global economy for the electric age. Or accept ongoing fossil fuel cost pain for families, firms and governments,” he added.
His remarks come amid heightened global energy market uncertainty following the war in Iran, which has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting the movement of energy supplies and driving up prices of petroleum products, fertilisers and pesticides.
The disruption has further highlighted the economic risks associated with dependence on fossil fuels and strengthened arguments for diversifying energy sources through investments in renewable electricity.
Stiell also described the climate crisis as a global health emergency, warning that its consequences are increasingly threatening human wellbeing across different regions.
He called for practical measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which contributes significantly to global warming despite remaining in the atmosphere for a shorter period than carbon dioxide.
According to Stiell, reducing methane emissions and expanding renewable-powered electricity could help slow global heating and deliver immediate benefits to communities.
He described practical climate interventions as potential “planetary icepacks”, emphasising their importance in limiting the rate of global temperature increases.
The call for accelerated climate action comes as scientists warn that global temperatures are likely to exceed the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels established under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The anticipated overshoot reflects persistent difficulties in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing national climate commitments at the scale required to meet international temperature goals.
Stiell maintained that governments must use COP31 to strengthen cooperation and agree on practical measures capable of translating existing climate pledges into measurable results.
The discussions are expected to place considerable emphasis on expanding electricity access, strengthening renewable energy infrastructure, reducing methane emissions and improving energy efficiency.
The summit also presents an opportunity for developing countries, particularly African nations, to demand greater financial and technological support for their energy transitions and climate resilience programmes.
For countries facing energy poverty and increasing climate vulnerabilities, expanding access to affordable renewable electricity remains important for supporting economic development, improving public health and strengthening resilience to climate-related impacts.
COP31, which runs from 9 to 20 November, is being hosted by Türkiye, while Australia leads the negotiations under an unusual shared leadership arrangement.
The conference is expected to focus on implementing existing climate commitments, with governments facing increasing pressure to demonstrate that international agreements can deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives.
