António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), has pointed out the unsettling reality of the world surpassing the 1.5°C global warming threshold, the most important point of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Guterres spoke at the World Meteorological Organization about how the 1.5°C limit is now inevitable. He also stated how climate action needs to be restored and mitigated before the century ends.
“Global warming is pushing our planet to the brink”
Guterres stated that every one of the last 10 years has been the hottest in history. Ocean heat is breaking records whilst decimating ecosystems, he says that no country is safe from fires, floods, storms, and heatwaves.
These comments from the Secretary-General are based on the most recent data, predicting that the 1.5° threshold on sustainable temperatures is within reach.
The WMO data suggests there is an 80% chance that at least one year between 2024 and 2028 will surpass the 1.5° threshold at least one time. Guterres says that with decisive action from all nations, the immediate goal of long-term passive climate control remains possible.
He says:
“Overshooting is now inevitable, which means that we’re going to have a period, bigger or smaller, with higher or lower intensity, above 1.5 degrees in the years to come. But the 1.5 still remains – according to all scientists I met – possible before the end of the century.”
Exceeding the 1.5°C limit has its implications
Scientists warn that even over the short term, if the 1.5°C limit is breached, it can have dire consequences such as irreversible polar ice sheet collapse, coral reef loss, permafrost thawing, and the release of large amounts of methane. Guterres emphasized that every fraction of a degree counts, and the difference between 1.5°C and 2°C can mean the collapse of the survival of communities and ecosystems.
During the 75th anniversary celebration of the World Meteorological Organization, Guterres referred to WMO as a barrier of truth and a credible and ‘clear-eyed’ source of data and information about the planet we share. Guterres advocated the need to expand early warning systems under the “Early Warnings for All” initiative that will allow life-saving alerts to 100% of the global population by 2027.
Guterres noted to WMO delegates:
“Without your rigorous modelling and forecasting, we would not know what lies ahead – or how to prepare for it. Forecasts and warnings save millions of lives and billions of dollars each year.”
The Secretary-General presented the 3 urgent areas of action
Guterres talks about what needs to be done now to mitigate the crisis.
- Incorporate early warning systems into all national policies and cover them under national budgets.
- Increase the amount of climate finance, particularly for highly indebted developing countries.
- Implement new, ambitious climate action plans that include a swift transition to renewable energy to meet the 1.5°C climate goal.
He also stated:
“Governments must embed early-warning systems across their policies, institutions, and budgets through better coordination and alignment.”
Guterres commented that the present national pledges remain unsatisfactory despite the urgency
The UN predicted emissions for the climate plans projected for 2035 will only decrease by 10%, while the 1.5°C limit requires a 60% cut.
Scarcity of updated commitments has raised concerns ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Guterres is also dedicated to the global fight against climate disinformation and harassment of climate scientists. In a critique of climate negation, he stated that scientists and researchers should never fear telling the truth.
Guterres’ message leading up to COP30 is that the climate crisis is speeding up, and we have limited time to respond. He emphasizes the need to find an exit ramp off “the highway to climate hell.” On the bright side, he states that humanity has control of the wheel.