UNITED NATIONS (TURKISH JOURNAL) – Pia Bozyel – UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday called on world leaders to accelerate climate action and deliver bold national transition plans ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, warning that “we don’t have a moment to lose” in the face of deepening global crises and worsening climate impacts.
Guterres made the remarks following a high-level meeting co-hosted with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which brought together a wide cross-section of global leaders, including heads of state from major economies such as China and the European Union, as well as nations most vulnerable to climate change.
Also in attendance were leaders currently chairing key regional blocs, including the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Alliance of Small Island States.
“This was one of the most diverse gatherings of heads of state focused exclusively on climate in recent memory,” said Guterres, emphasizing that a common message had emerged despite global turmoil: the need to stay the course on climate commitments and build momentum toward a just green transition.
“Accelerating climate catastrophes are sparing no region,” the UN chief warned, noting the crisis is worsening poverty, displacing communities, and fueling instability. “Yet countries are waking up to a clear fact: renewables are the economic opportunity of the century.”
He underscored that clean energy prices are plummeting, while the sector is creating jobs and driving growth. “No group or government can stop the clean energy revolution,” he added. “Science is on our side — and the economics have shifted.”
Guterres described renewable energy as “the pathway out of climate hell,” offering the most secure route to energy independence and a permanent break from volatile fossil fuel markets.
Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, he said, collective climate efforts have helped bend the projected global warming curve downward — from more than 4°C to approximately 2.6°C — if current national plans are fully implemented. But “we must go further and faster,” he stressed.
Guterres urged governments to take decisive action on two fronts.
First, he called on leaders to submit “the strongest possible” national climate plans well ahead of COP30, with many committing to present updated strategies by September. These plans, he said, should set ambitious economy-wide emissions reduction targets aligned with the 1.5°C limit, cover all greenhouse gases, and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
Second, he urged greater support for developing countries, which are suffering the worst effects of a crisis they did little to cause. Guterres noted that Africa, despite possessing 60% of the world’s best solar potential, accounts for just 1.5% of installed solar capacity and receives only 2% of global renewable investment.
“This must change — fast,” he said, calling for a credible roadmap to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually for developing countries by 2035. He also pressed developed nations to double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion this year and boost contributions to the new Loss and Damage Fund.
Guterres announced that momentum would continue to build with a special climate event scheduled for September in the final weeks ahead of COP30.
“As today’s meeting made clear,” he concluded, “we cannot, must not, and will not let up on climate action.”
