Climate: Leading or Ruin? Guterres Warns at COP30
- "You can't argue wiht the laws of physics," declared António Guterres,the Secretary-General of the United Nations,at the opening of the summit of leaders preceding the Conference of the...
- The fundamental science is clear: carbon dioxide (carbon) released into the atmosphere intensifies the greenhouse effect, trapping the Sun's heat and driving global warming.Though, Guterres emphasized that limiting...
- guterres didn't shy away from naming those hindering progress.
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António Guterres Warns Leaders: Lead on Climate action or Face Ruin
The Urgency of Climate Action
“You can’t argue wiht the laws of physics,” declared António Guterres,the Secretary-General of the United Nations,at the opening of the summit of leaders preceding the Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations,in Brazil. ”But we can choose between leading or being led to ruin,” he stated, issuing a stark call for action against climate change.
The fundamental science is clear: carbon dioxide (carbon) released into the atmosphere intensifies the greenhouse effect, trapping the Sun’s heat and driving global warming.Though, Guterres emphasized that limiting greenhouse gas (greenhouse gases) emissions and mitigating global warming remains within our control.
Profits Over Planet: The Role of Fossil Fuel Interests
guterres didn’t shy away from naming those hindering progress. “Too many companies are making record profits from climate devastation,and billions of euros are lost in lobbies of the oil industry,who deceive citizens and obstruct progress,” he asserted,addressing more than 60 world leaders gathered in Belém,in the Amazon region of Brazil.
He further criticized the continued financial support for polluting industries, stating, “Many leaders remain captive to these vested interests,” and highlighting that governments worldwide spend approximately one billion dollars annually on subsidies for fossil fuels.
The burning of gas, oil, and coal - for energy production, transportation, and even the manufacturing of plastics – is the primary driver of greenhouse gas emissions, fueling global warming and climate change.
Brazil’s Commitment and Lula’s Perspective
A “Fair Path” Forward
President Lula da Silva, as the host of COP30 in Brazil, stressed the need for a “fair path” to address climate change. Further details of his statement are expected as the summit progresses.
