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ClimateActive · 10h

Guterres uses final UN climate summit to demand fossil-fuel exit roadmaps

In his last high-level climate meeting as UN chief, António Guterres hailed renewables as "unstoppable" and pressed governments for concrete plans to quit oil and gas.

newest coverage 2h agosummary written 1h ago4 pieces1.1k likes & upvotes23 comments NewswiresBluesky

What to know

  • Guterres, in his final year as UN chief, pressed governments to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to renewables ahead of his term ending December 31.
  • Current national climate plans still leave the world on track for over 2C of warming, well above the 1.5C threshold.
  • Germany released a fossil-fuel exit roadmap timed just before the summit; the UK pledged £330 million in new climate financing.
  • Analysts were split: some hailed Guterres's legacy on climate, while others said the New York meeting produced fewer concrete commitments than hoped.

“We are the first generation with the tools to end the fossil fuel age – and the last who can avert climate catastrophe.”

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General · RTE News ↗ · Sep 22

António GuterresAntónio Guterres outgoing UN Secretary-GeneralAnthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese Australian Prime MinisterRecep Tayyip ErdoganRecep Tayyip Erdogan Turkish PresidentEd MilibandEd Miliband UK Foreign SecretaryRachel Cleetus Union of Concerned ScientistsCosima Cassel E3G climate think tank analyst

Guterres uses final UN climate summit to demand fossil-fuel exit roadmaps
Straits Times

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

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  1. 3

    Analysts split between praise for Guterres and disappointment over summit outcomes

    Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists called Guterres an extraordinary climate champion, while Cosima Cassel of E3G said the summit fell short on new commitments despite welcoming Germany's roadmap.

    “It's a little disappointing that there weren't more commitments and more announcements here.”
    — Cosima Cassel
    1. 1 outlet Outgoing UN chief makes final climate push at New York summit

      first by Straits Times, 2h ago

  2. 2

    UK pledges £330 million to Global Environment Facility

    British foreign minister Ed Miliband announced the investment in the fund supporting global nature, climate and pollution goals during the summit.

  3. 1

    Albanese and Erdogan follow with contrasting tones on climate ambition

    Australian PM Anthony Albanese said action was not optional, while co-host Turkish President Erdogan tempered expectations for the upcoming COP31 talks in Antalya, warning against proposals that ignore economic realities.

    “Any proposal that fails to reconcile our climate objectives with social and economic realities will be doomed to fail.”
    — Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  4. background

    Guterres warns existing climate pledges still lead past 2C warming — He said that even if countries fully implemented current national climate plans, the world would still warm more than 2C, and called for a tripling of renewable capacity and adaptation funding, plus doubled efficiency gains.

  5. background

    Guterres opens New York climate summit, calls renewables "unstoppable" — In his final high-level climate meeting as Secretary-General, Guterres said clean energy had gone from alternative to unstoppable and urged countries to accelerate the transition to renewables and submit concrete fossil-fuel phase-out plans.

  6. background

    Germany issues fossil-fuel exit roadmap hours before summit — Europe's largest economy released its plan to quit fossil fuels shortly before Guterres' address, giving his call for national roadmaps a concrete example.

  7. background

    Guterres accuses "Big Oil" of treating atmosphere as "open sewer" — A day before his summit speech, Guterres denounced fossil fuel companies in strong terms, setting the tone for his final push on climate policy.