UN Secretary-General Warns of ‘Climate Collapse in Real Time’ as 2023 Becomes Hottest Year on Record

The United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, has issued a stark warning at the launch of the World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate report, stating that the world is “living through climate collapse in real time.” The report, which was released to inform the negotiations at the 28th Conference of the Parties (Cop28) in Dubai, reveals that 2023 will be the hottest year ever recorded.

Guterres emphasized that the impacts of climate change are devastating, with communities around the world experiencing extreme weather events, such as fires, floods, and searing temperatures. He called on world leaders to act, stating that record global heating should send shivers down their spines and trigger them to take action.

The WMO report attributes the record-breaking temperatures to the continued rise in carbon emissions from fossil fuel burning and the return of the El Niño climate pattern. The report also notes that greenhouse gas levels are at record highs, global temperatures are at record highs, and sea levels are rising at a record pace.

Antarctic sea ice extent, a key indicator of climate change, has hit a record low, with the maximum end-of-winter extent being 1 million square kilometers less than the previous record low. This drop is equivalent to an area the size of France and Germany combined.

Extreme weather events have had a profound impact on all continents, with notable incidents including flooding in Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey, and severe wildfires in Canada and Hawaii. Guterres urged leaders to ensure that everyone is protected by early warning services, highlighting the imperative need to act to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and coming centuries.

The UN secretary-general also criticized a weaker phrase for ending fossil fuel use that is preferred by some countries, calling it a “pity” and emphasizing the need for clear commitments to phase out fossil fuels with a timeframe aligned to the 1.5C limit.

The World Meteorological Organization’s report marks a critical moment in the ongoing climate negotiations, as world leaders gather in Dubai to discuss the future of the planet.