The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has called for urgent COP28 talks in Dubai to outline ‘drastic climate action’, warning that the world is far from meeting its goals in addressing global warming. In a new report, the UN has warned that countries’ commitments to reduce greenhouse gases are not enough to prevent warming beyond safe limits, potentially reaching a catastrophic 2.9 degrees Celsius this century.

Guterres emphasized the need for leaders to take action and called out their failure to address climate change adequately. He criticized the lack of ambition in national plans and urged governments to align with the 1.5-degree target and end the use of fossil fuels. The UN has warned that based on current policies, the planet is on track for disastrous warming of 2.5 to 2.9 degrees by 2100. Despite efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the world continues to release record levels of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, with emissions rising by 1.2% from 2021 to 2022, largely driven by fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes.

The upcoming COP28 climate talks in Dubai will be crucial in addressing these issues and defining the necessary steps to combat climate change. It is time for leaders around the world to take responsibility for their actions and work together towards a sustainable future for all humanity.