United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged countries to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, calling for global greenhouse gas emissions to be cut by at least six per cent annually in the coming years.
Guterres also stressed the need to build cleaner, more secure economies that are less vulnerable to external shocks, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, told UN correspondents on Tuesday in New York.
The UN chief is in Antalya, Türkiye, attending the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), which opened on Monday and is scheduled to close on November 20.
Haq said Guterres addressed the COP30 Presidency’s Roadmap for Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Energy Systems in a Just, Orderly and Equitable Manner during the morning session.
According to the spokesperson, Guterres warned that fossil fuels were not only driving the climate crisis but that dependence on them also carried significant economic and security costs, as exposed by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Later in the afternoon, the secretary-general held a bilateral meeting with Türkiye’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to discuss global efforts to tackle climate change and strengthen cooperation towards achieving meaningful outcomes at COP31.
They also exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, and the situations in Libya and Cyprus.
Guterres also met with China’s Vice President, Han Zheng. Their discussions focused on the need for coordinated efforts to secure credible and ambitious COP31 outcomes that address existing gaps in climate mitigation, financing and adaptation.
The UN chief also met with members of the Youth Advisory Group and participated in a roundtable with young people, stressing that they should not be regarded merely as beneficiaries but as active participants and leaders in climate action.
He urged young people to help bridge the gap between international climate conferences and their communities, while promoting scientific facts in the digital space, where disinformation spreads rapidly.
In addition, Guterres met with climate scientists to discuss recent developments in climate science, financing and the energy transition, as well as key policy priorities for COP31 and beyond.
No fewer than 90,000 people are expected to attend the summit in Antalya, amid growing pressure on world leaders to translate climate commitments into concrete action. The conference is scheduled to end on November 20.
