The era of global warming has ended, and the time of global boiling has arrived, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday. This alarming statement came after scientists confirmed that July was the world’s hottest month on record, raising urgent concerns about the human-caused impacts on the planet’s animal and plant life.
“Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning,” Guterres told reporters. As the world’s ecosystems face unprecedented changes, the threat to biodiversity is becoming increasingly alarming.
Financial system
Guterres emphasized the narrow window that still exists to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a critical threshold to prevent catastrophic consequences for wildlife and their habitats. However, this goal can only be achieved with “dramatic, immediate climate action,” Guterres stressed.
He specifically called for a major course correction of the global financial system to support this accelerated action. He appealed to G20 members to set ambitious new national emissions reduction targets that align with the urgency of the situation.
“The air is unbreathable. The heat is unbearable. And the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable. Leaders must lead. No more hesitancy, no more excuses, no more waiting for others to move first. There is simply no more time for that,” Guterres said. “Many banks, investors and other financial actors continue to reward polluters and incentivize wrecking the planet.”
Earlier in the day, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service provided more details on the global climate situation. Chris Hewitt, Director of Climate Services for the WMO, stated, “We anticipate we will see the warmest year on record sometime in the next five years.”
The consequences of these facts on animals and plants are enormous. Rising temperatures can result in habitat loss, changes in migration patterns, and increased mortality rates for numerous species.
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