At Davos, Guterres Slams Backsliding on Climate Commitments
Davos, Switzerland – January 22, 2025 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has delivered a strongly worded address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, criticizing the lack of progress in meeting global climate commitments.
In his speech, Guterres warned that the world is “on a fast track to climate catastrophe” and that the current trajectory is leading to a temperature increase of 2.8 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. This, he said, would have devastating consequences for the planet and its inhabitants.
Guterres highlighted the failure of many countries to meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, ideally to 1.5 degrees Celsius. He said that current emissions projections show that the world is on track to exceed the 2-degree target by a wide margin.
The Secretary-General also criticized the continued investment in fossil fuels, which he called “a betrayal of humanity.” He said that governments and businesses need to stop subsidizing and expanding fossil fuel production and instead invest in renewable energy sources.
Guterres called for urgent action on climate change, including a global commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. He also urged governments to adopt carbon pricing mechanisms, provide incentives for clean energy technologies, and support research and development in sustainable solutions.
The Secretary-General’s speech comes ahead of the crucial COP28 climate summit, which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in November 2025. Guterres stressed that COP28 must be a turning point in the fight against climate change.
“We are at a critical juncture in the fight for our planet,” Guterres said. “We must act now to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and build a sustainable future for all.”
The Secretary-General’s speech was met with mixed reactions. Some world leaders and business executives praised his strong stance, while others expressed skepticism about the feasibility of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
However, Guterres’s message was clear: the world can no longer afford to delay action on climate change. The time to act is now.
At Davos, Guterres slams backsliding on climate commitments
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