The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has delivered a strong call to action in response to the alarming data from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), which declared July 2023 as the hottest month in human history.
During a recent speech at the UN Headquarters in New York, Guterres stated that the world has moved from the era of global warming to a more critical phase of “global boiling.”
He emphasized the urgent need for leaders to step up their efforts to combat climate change and protect the planet.
The data from WMO indicated that July 2023 is on track to break temperature records across the globe. The month has already witnessed the hottest three-week period, the three hottest days ever recorded, and the highest ocean temperatures for this time of year.
These extreme weather conditions are leading to devastating consequences, such as monsoon rains sweeping away children, families fleeing from wildfires, and workers collapsing from scorching heat.
Guterres made it clear that climate change is already here and that it is a terrifying reality. The impacts are felt worldwide, with vast regions in North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe experiencing a cruel and disastrous summer.
He stressed that the scientific evidence is unequivocal: human activities are to blame for the escalating climate crisis.
In light of the urgency of the situation, Mr. Guterres called for immediate and dramatic climate action. While some progress has been made, he noted that it is not going far enough or fast enough.
He pointed out that world leaders have several critical opportunities ahead, including the Africa Climate Summit, the G20 Summit, the UN Climate Ambition Summit, and COP28.
These forums provide a chance for countries to present ambitious new national emissions reduction targets and to collaborate on global climate action and climate justice.
The UN official highlighted the need for developed countries to reach net-zero emissions, particularly for electricity production, by 2035 or 2040.
He urged financial institutions to stop funding fossil fuels and shift their investments to renewable energy.
He also called on fossil fuel companies to chart detailed transition plans to clean energy.
Mr. Guterres emphasized the importance of adaptation investment to save lives from the climate crisis. Vulnerable developing countries, particularly those on the frontlines, need support to deal with the impacts they have done the least to cause.
The UN Secretary-General called for a global course correction in the financial system to support accelerated climate action. This includes putting a price on carbon and mobilizing more private finance for renewable energy, adaptation, and loss and damage in developing countries.
Guterres stressed that addressing the climate crisis requires cooperation and partnership between governments, civil society, business, and other stakeholders.
He invited first-movers and doers to the Climate Ambition Summit in September to demonstrate their commitment to the Acceleration Agenda.
Taking urgent and ambitious action now is the price of entry to safeguard our planet and future generations.
