UN Chief Confirms 1.5°C Global Warming Limit Will Be Exceeded, Calls for Urgent Climate Action Ahead of COP30

During a recent address at the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged the unavoidable surpassing of the 1.5°C global warming threshold above pre-industrial levels. He highlighted that current global temperatures have already risen by 1.4°C, citing data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Guterres warned that while maintaining warming below 1.5°C is no longer feasible in the near term, this target remains crucial to mitigating severe climate impacts as outlined by the IPCC.

Emphasizing the urgency, he called upon governments worldwide to implement ambitious national climate action plans and establish a credible financing strategy mobilizing $1.3 trillion annually by 2035, specifically to support developing countries. The upcoming COP30 summit, scheduled for November 10–21 in Belem, Brazil, faces the challenge of reinvigorating international climate cooperation amid setbacks such as the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.

Guterres also stressed combating climate misinformation, reacting to dismissive statements about climate science by figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump. He underscored renewable energy as the fastest and most affordable solution to halt climate destruction, positioning it at the center of future efforts to limit global warming.

The evolving climate scenario presents a complex backdrop for COP30, demanding bold political leadership and substantial financial commitments to address the accelerating climate crisis effectively.