By Shakeel Ahmed
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, addressing the Belém Climate Summit, warned that exceeding the 1.5°C global warming limit by the early 2030s is unavoidable and called it a “moral failure.” He cautioned that even a brief overshoot could cause irreversible damage to ecosystems, threaten peace, and endanger billions.
Guterres urged immediate global action to limit the overshoot’s impact by peaking emissions now, phasing out fossil fuels, cutting methane, and protecting forests and oceans. He emphasized achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and investing in adaptation and resilience.
Highlighting the rise of renewable energy, he noted that clean power investments now surpass fossil fuels, proving that “clean energy is winning on price and potential.” However, he criticized fossil fuel subsidies and lack of political will, urging countries to close the emissions gap and turn commitments into action.
“The United Nations will not give up on the 1.5°C goal,” Guterres affirmed, calling for global unity to make this decade one of climate action and delivery.
