Secretary-General António Guterres today (3 Oct) told journalists that “while climate chaos gallops ahead, climate action has stalled,” and said that the upcoming COP27 in Sharm el-Shaikh “is critical – but we have a long way to go.”

Taking stock of recent climate events, Guterres said, “a third of Pakistan flooded. Europe’s hottest summer in 500 years. The Philippines hammered. The whole of Cuba in black-out. And here, in the United States, Hurricane Ian has delivered a brutal reminder that no country and no economy is immune from the climate crisis.”

The Secretary-General said, “the collective commitments of G20 governments are coming far too little and far too late. The actions of the wealthiest developed and emerging economies simply don’t add up. Taken together, current pledges and policies are shutting the door on our chance to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, let alone meet the 1.5-degree goal.”

He said, “we are in a life-or-death struggle for our own safety today and our survival tomorrow.”

Guterres stressed that COP27 “is the place for all countries – led by the G-20 -- to show they are in this fight and in it together.” He urged leaders “to take full part in COP 27 and tell the world what climate action they will take nationally and globally.”

Leaders of the world can demonstrate through their presence and active participation that climate action truly is the top global priority that it must be.”

He highlighted the need for meaningful progress in addressing loss and damage beyond adaptation, as well as on finance for climate action..

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