The U.N. chief warns that reliance on fossil fuels is pushing the world to the brink

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U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres speaks during the opening ceremony of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday.





Alberto Pezzali/AP



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Alberto Pezzali/AP



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But the COP26 conference opened a day after the G20 economies noted only vaguely «the key relevance» of halting net emissions «by or around mid-century» without setting a timetable even for phasing out coal.

«Our planet is changing before our eyes — from the ocean depths to mountain tops; from melting glaciers to relentless extreme weather events,» the secretary-general said.

He warned that a rise in sea levels was set to double in 30 years, that oceans «are hotter than ever — and getting warmer faster,» and that the Amazon rain forest is now a net emitter of carbon – contributing to the problem instead of helping to ameliorate it.

In the face of all that, he said, recent efforts to address the problem have been mostly «an illusion.»

«We are still careening towards climate catastrophe,» Guterres said, and if serious action isn’t taken, «temperatures will rise well above two degrees.»

He said the world must recommit itself to the 1.5 degree goal, and «if commitments fall short by the end of this COP, countries must revisit their national climate plans and policies. Not every five years. Every year.»

Without sustained effort, «We are fast approaching tipping points that will trigger escalating feedback loops of global heating,» he said. But investment in climate resilient economies aimed at net zero emissions will «create feedback loops of its own – virtuous circles of sustainable growth, jobs, and opportunity.»

• cop26


• The United Nations


• Antonio Guterres


• climate change