UN Chief Warns World Is Entering New Era of Extreme Weather, Calls for Urgent Global Climate Action

UN Chief Warns World Is Entering New Era of Extreme Weather, Calls for Urgent Global Climate Action
—————————————-
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the world is entering a new era marked by increasingly severe and frequent extreme weather events, urging governments to take immediate action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and increase financial assistance to countries most vulnerable to climate change.

Guterres issued the warning as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) opened in Antalya, Türkiye, with representatives from around 200 countries attending. He highlighted the combined impact of an exceptionally strong El Niño phenomenon and record global temperatures, warning that 2026 or 2027 could become the hottest year on record as heatwaves, floods and droughts intensify. He stressed the need to expand renewable energy and provide developing countries with sufficient funding to adapt to climate-related risks and protect vulnerable communities.

Meanwhile, Rachel Cleetus, climate programme director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, called on world leaders to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy. Jasper Inventor, head of Greenpeace’s delegation to the conference, described the negotiations as challenging, citing disagreements between developed and developing countries over climate adaptation financing. African nations are calling for a threefold increase in funding for climate adaptation to help them cope with droughts, floods and rising sea levels. The conference comes amid growing international pressure on governments to fulfil their climate commitments and provide developing countries with the financial and technological resources needed to address the consequences of global warming.