Noting ‘We Are Pushing Planetary Boundaries to the Brink’, Secretary-General Underlines Need to Deliver on Climate, in Message for Austria World Summit
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the Austria World Summit, in Vienna today:
Excellencies, friends, I thank [Austria] President [Alexander] Van der Bellen and Arnold Schwarzenegger for once again organizing this important Summit.
If there was ever a time to come together and deliver on climate — it is now.
We are truly at a moment of truth. We are pushing planetary boundaries to the brink — shattering global temperature records and reaping the whirlwind.
Extreme events turbocharged by climate chaos are piling up: Scorching temperatures, lethal floods, deadly droughts and more — killing people, ruining lives and driving up prices.
The vulnerable are suffering the most. And we are in for far worse if leaders don’t step-up and deliver — without delay.
It is climate crunch time. The next 18 months are critical in the fight to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C and avoid the worst of climate chaos.
Every one of us must play our part.
That means countries honouring their commitments:
Creating new national climate action plans by next year that align with 1.5°C, putting us on a path to net zero by 2050 and to fossil fuel phase out — with the biggest emitters, the G20, leading the way.
It means cities, companies, financial institutions, and more, creating transition plans consistent with a 1.5°C world — by next year at the latest.
Plans that align with the recommendations of the United Nations High-Level Expert Group on Net Zero; that cover the entire value chain; and that steer clear of dodgy offsets.
And it means delivering the public and private finance needed to slash emissions and protect people and nature from climate extremes.
Violent weather is sweeping the world. It shows all too clearly the urgent need for developed countries to make good on their promise to double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion a year by 2025. And to show how they will close the adaptation finance gap.
And I urge countries to push for reform of the international financial architecture and for a substantial increase in multilateral development banks lending capacity and changes to their business model — so that they can play a much stronger role in climate finance.
Dear friends, every one of us must do our part. And put the tools we have to work.
Together, let’s create a healthy planet and a safer future for us all.