Enviro News Asia, New York — António Guterres called for an accelerated global transition to renewable energy, warning that climate change is intensifying and threatening both environmental and global security.
The statement was delivered in a video message accompanying the release of the World Meteorological Organization State of the Global Climate 2025 report, which highlights alarming trends in rising temperatures and environmental degradation worldwide.
The report confirms that the period from 2015 to 2025 represents the 11 hottest years on record, with 2025 ranking among the top three warmest years, approximately 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels. It also indicates that the Earth’s energy imbalance—where more heat is absorbed than released—has reached its highest level ever recorded.
Guterres stated that greenhouse gas concentrations have reached unprecedented levels, while oceans continue to absorb excessive heat, intensifying storms and accelerating the melting of glaciers and sea ice. Rising sea levels, he added, are increasingly affecting vulnerable communities.
He emphasized that the impacts of climate change are already being felt globally, including rising food prices due to droughts, extreme heat affecting workers, declining agricultural productivity, and widespread flooding displacing communities.
The UN chief highlighted the urgent need for increased adaptation financing to support countries and communities facing immediate climate risks. He also linked climate instability to broader global security concerns, noting that reliance on fossil fuels contributes to geopolitical tensions.
Guterres stressed that renewable energy offers a comprehensive solution by enhancing climate stability, ensuring reliable energy supply, and strengthening national security.
He urged governments, industries, and stakeholders to act decisively, emphasizing that delays in addressing climate change could lead to increasingly severe consequences.
The report serves as a critical warning that climate change is accelerating, requiring immediate, science-based action to mitigate its impacts and support a sustainable global transition. (*)
