Guterres at Climate Summit Opening: We Have Entered the Era of 'Extreme Phenomena'

Antalya – Agencies: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on world leaders yesterday to “deal seriously” with the issue of climate change, as the COP31 conference began in Turkey amid early disagreements between negotiators from wealthy and developing countries over financing issues. Guterres’s appeal came as the UN’s annual climate conference kicked off in the Turkish city of Antalya. The conference follows a year marked by severe heatwaves in Europe, widespread forest fires in Indonesia, and catastrophic floods in Nepal, all under the influence of an exceptionally strong El Niño climate phenomenon. In a statement, Guterres said, “We have entered a new era of extreme weather events.” He urged conference participants to “show seriousness by accelerating emissions reductions, speeding up a just transition away from fossil fuels, and providing the necessary funding and protection for the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.”