UN (Washington Insider Magazine) – As record-breaking temperatures sweep across the globe, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns that humanity has entered the “era of global boiling.” Describing July 2023 as the hottest month ever recorded, he stresses that climate change is “terrifying” and far from over. Citing devastating events—children lost in floods, families fleeing wildfires, and workers collapsing in extreme heat—Guterres called on global leaders to act urgently to mitigate the accelerating climate crisis.
Scientists at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed the severity of this year’s weather patterns, with the first three weeks of July marked as the hottest in recorded history. Director Carlo Buentempo of the Copernicus Climate Change Service noted the “unprecedented” warming, predicting July would not only be the hottest July but likely the warmest month in history. Adding to the concern, ocean temperatures hit all-time highs, a trend ongoing since April.
According to WMO’s Chris Hewitt, a shift from the cooling La Niña to the warming El Niño effect will likely lead to one of the next five years setting another global heat record. There’s also a strong probability of average global temperatures briefly surpassing the critical 1.5°C limit, underscoring the urgency of climate action.
Call for Immediate Action
Guterres highlighted the pressing need for emissions cuts, climate adaptation, and financial commitments to fight climate change. He urged G20 countries, which produce 80% of global emissions, to set new emissions targets and work towards net-zero emissions by mid-century. He also appealed to companies, financial institutions, and fossil fuel industries to halt greenwashing and commit genuinely to climate goals. Emphasizing the need to transition away from fossil fuels, he called for a phase-out of coal by 2040 and an end to oil and gas expansion.
Guterres also stressed adaptation investment, particularly for developing nations facing severe climate impacts. He urged wealthy nations to double climate adaptation funds by 2025, fully fund the Green Climate Fund, and establish effective early-warning systems by 2027. He warned that failure to act on these financial commitments threatens to deepen the global climate divide.
A Global Financial Shift
For lasting climate change solutions, Guterres proposed a “course correction” in the global financial system. He called for a carbon pricing structure and for multilateral development banks to increase financing for renewable energy, climate adaptation, and loss-and-damage support.
With critical climate summits on the horizon—including the UN Climate Ambition Summit and COP28 in Dubai—Guterres urged all nations to show unprecedented ambition to prevent further climate devastation.