United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has delivered a strong plea at the COP climate summit, urging global leaders to accelerate action to reduce emissions and phase out fossil fuels.
Directly confronting industry lobbying, the UN chief stated that the justification for continued reliance on oil, gas, and coal is rapidly disappearing. He called on participating countries to push forward explicit commitments to eliminate fossil fuels rather than relying on subtle hints or partial measures.
Pushing Back Against Energy Lobbying
During his address, Guterres pointed to the active political and economic opposition standing in the way of energy transitions, contrasting human climate challenges with prehistoric extinction events.
“The case for fossil fuels is collapsing,” he said. “Fossil fuels must go the way of the dinosaurs. And that won’t happen on its own. The dinosaurs did not have a lobby. Fossil fuels do.”
He urged nations to break away from their dependence on non-renewable energy sources to prevent further global overheating. “It’s time to kick the habit – and end the fossil-fuel addiction,” he said.
Underscoring the critical timeline facing international negotiators, Guterres warned of the consequences of inaction. “It’s make or bake time,” he said.
