UN warns of 'climate hell'

Guterres placed much of the blame squarely on the fossil fuel industry, accusing "the Godfathers of climate chaos" of raking in record profits while deceiving the public and sowing doubt about climate change.

In a dire warning about the rapidly escalating climate crisis, the United Nations has sounded the alarm over a "shocking" new milestone - the planet has endured an unprecedented 12 consecutive months of record-breaking heat.

According to data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, every month from June 2023 to May 2024 was the hottest such month on record globally. The average global temperature for this 12-month period was a staggering 1.63°C (2.9°F) above pre-industrial levels.

UN Secretary-General Antanio Guterres emphasised the urgency of immediate action to reverse course and stabilize the climate system. "We need an exit ramp off the highway to climate hell," Guterres declared in a speech marking World Environment Day. "The battle for 1.5 degrees will be won or lost in the 2020s."

Guterres placed much of the blame squarely on the fossil fuel industry, accusing "the Godfathers of climate chaos" of raking in record profits while deceiving the public and sowing doubt about climate change.

"The fossil fuel industry rake in record profits and feast off trillions in taxpayer-funded subsidies," he said, urging a 30% cut in global fossil fuel production and use by 2030.

In a bold move, the UN chief called on every country to ban advertising from fossil fuel companies, similar to restrictions on tobacco advertising due to its harmful effects on human health.