UN Secretary-General Urges Immediate Action on Climate Change, Citing 'Moment of Truth'
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is delivering a final, urgent message to world leaders regarding climate change as his second and last term concludes at the end of the year. He emphasizes that 'This is a moment of truth' and that there is no more time for delay or shifting responsibility. Guterres will convey this message at the upcoming UN climate conference, COP31, scheduled for November 9-20. He has consistently used strong language to highlight the climate crisis, previously stating that 'the era of global boiling has arrived.' His urgency stems from worsening global conditions, including killer heat waves, storms, floods, and droughts, exacerbated by rising temperatures and the El Niño climate pattern. Guterres shared that a conversation with scientists last year, who informed him that the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius was no longer achievable, was a significant shock and 'one of the most difficult days of my life.'