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World leaders to address COP31 as Turkey pushes for new climate deal

World leaders to address COP31 as Turkey pushes for new climate deal

By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Valerie Volcovici ANTALYA, Turkey, Nov 11 (Reuters) - World leaders will set out their climate priorities in speeches at COP31 in Turkey on Wednesday, as negotiators seek agreement on a plan to increase the share of electricity in global energy use and revive stalled efforts to
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UN Secretary-General Guterres Issues Urgent Warning on Climate Crisis Ahead of COP31 Summit

UN Secretary-General Guterres Issues Urgent Warning on Climate Crisis Ahead of COP31 Summit

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued an urgent warning to world leaders regarding the climate crisis, ahead of the COP31 UN climate conference in Türkiye. Guterres described the current phase as a 'moment of truth' for confronting global warming and emphasized the necessity of immediate action to reduce emissions. In an interview with The Associated Press, he stated that the world no longer has time for blame-shifting and called on governments to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels while increasing investment in clean energy. Guterres expressed that scientists informing him last year that the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius was difficult to achieve was one of the most challenging moments of his career, attributing this failure primarily to a lack of political leadership and long-term vision. He noted that many political systems lack a strategic view, with policies changing frequently, which hinders sustained investment.
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UN Chief Warns Global Warming Goal of 1.5°C No Longer Achievable, Urges Immediate Action

UN Chief Warns Global Warming Goal of 1.5°C No Longer Achievable, Urges Immediate Action

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning regarding global warming, stating that the 2015 Paris Agreement's primary goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels is no longer attainable. This declaration comes as UN climate talks, COP31, commence in Turkey. Guterres, whose second and final term as UN chief is expiring, emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting worsening heat waves, storms, floods, and droughts globally. He revealed that scientists informed him last year that the 1.5°C target was no longer realistic due to the excessive release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. The UN is now focusing on limiting how much further global temperatures will rise beyond this threshold. Guterres stressed that all nations must do more, and do it now, to address the climate crisis.
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UN Secretary-General Guterres Issues Urgent Climate Warning, Citing Failure of Political Leadership

UN Secretary-General Guterres Issues Urgent Climate Warning, Citing Failure of Political Leadership

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning regarding the climate crisis, emphasizing that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times is no longer achievable. Speaking ahead of UN climate talks in Turkey, Guterres described the situation as a "moment of truth," urging world leaders to take immediate and decisive action. He revealed that scientists informed him last year that the 1.5-degree target was no longer viable due to the excessive release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. Guterres, who is in his final term as UN chief, expressed profound disappointment, stating that while the world has not failed, political leadership has. He stressed that protecting the planet requires a long-term strategic view, which is often absent in political systems where policies change frequently, hindering necessary sustained investment.
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UN Report Forecasts 2026 Among Hottest Years, Citing El Niño and Climate Change Impacts

UN Report Forecasts 2026 Among Hottest Years, Citing El Niño and Climate Change Impacts

A new U.N. climate report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), released on the first day of COP31, indicates that 2026 is projected to be among the four hottest years on record. This elevated temperature trend is expected to persist into early 2027, largely due to an unusually powerful El Niño phenomenon. The report states that the global average surface temperature from January to September was approximately 2.65°F (1.47°C) above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. The past 12 years have consistently ranked among the hottest, with 2023 through 2026 occupying the top four positions. The current El Niño, intensifying since August, is anticipated to be the strongest on record by December, acting as a 'risk multiplier' for health and exacerbating human-caused climate change. The World Health Organization (WHO) has, for the first time, classified the anticipated health impacts of extreme heat and the record-breaking El Niño as a health emergency.
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Leaders gather in Turkey for UN climate summit after a disastrous year of extreme weather

Leaders gather in Turkey for UN climate summit after a disastrous year of extreme weather

World leaders, delegates and climate activists are gathering in Antalya, Turkey, for a U.N. climate summit
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COP31 Conference Highlights Need for Improved Climate Communication Strategies

COP31 Conference Highlights Need for Improved Climate Communication Strategies

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, is underscoring the urgent need for more effective climate communication. Despite decades of discussions and the Paris Agreement, the world is still not acting fast enough to prevent exceeding the 1.5°C warming threshold, which the U.N. Environment Programme warns is now almost inevitable. A new report from the Potential Energy Coalition, commissioned by The Rockefeller Foundation, analyzed over 83,000 survey responses to identify better ways to communicate about climate change to inspire action. Key findings suggest that direct communication about climate change consequences is effective, focusing on potential gains rather than just losses, making the issue personal, and avoiding jargon. The report emphasizes that while the science is serious, communication needs to be honest, useful, and hopeful to resonate with a broader audience.
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War, conflict must not distract from climate action, leaders warn COP31

War, conflict must not distract from climate action, leaders warn COP31

By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Valerie Volcovici ANTALYA, Turkey, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Wars and trade disputes should not be allowed to distract the world from its struggle to combat global warming, the leaders of Brazil and Turkey told the COP31 climate conference on Wednesday.
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World leaders begin talks at UN climate conference amid concerns that actions are inadequate, slow

World leaders begin talks at UN climate conference amid concerns that actions are inadequate, slow

World leaders begin formal discussions Wednesday at the United Nations climate change conference in Turkey
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Climate crisis is 'outrunning us', UN chief warns COP31

Climate crisis is 'outrunning us', UN chief warns COP31

By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Valerie Volcovici ANTALYA, Turkey, Nov 11 (Reuters) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders at the COP31 summit in Turkey on Wednesday that the slow international response to climate change so far had placed the world on a path to destruction.
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UN climate summit kicks off in Turkey after a disastrous year of extreme weather

UN climate summit kicks off in Turkey after a disastrous year of extreme weather

World leaders, delegates and climate activists are in Antalya, Turkey, for a U.N. climate summit
ReutersReuters
COP31 summit leaders urge crisis-wracked world to move faster on climate

COP31 summit leaders urge crisis-wracked world to move faster on climate

By Simon Jessop and Tuvan Gumrukcu ANTALYA, Turkey, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Leaders of COP31 urged the world to accelerate the fight against global warming as they began their annual UN climate conference in Turkey on Monday against a backdrop of rising temperatures and worsening climate-driven disasters.