United Nations: Exceeding the 1.5 Degree Celsius Threshold Has Become Inevitable

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a warning described as "shocking," announcing that the world is on an inevitable path to exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold of global warming, a limit that the international community has sought to avoid since the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.

Failure of International Efforts and a Grim Climate Reality

During his speech at the headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva, Guterres confirmed that "international efforts to limit global warming have effectively failed," noting that exceeding this limit will plunge the world into a phase of devastating consequences including floods, wildfires, and unprecedented heatwaves.

He added: "Global warming is pushing our planet to the brink," explaining that all of the last ten years have been the hottest in recorded history, while forecasts indicate a rise in Earth's temperature by 3 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

Countries' Commitments Are Not Enough

UN data shows that current commitments to reduce emissions — covering 70% of global emissions — aim only to reduce them by 10% by 2035, while achieving the 1.5-degree target requires a reduction of at least 60% during the same period.

Call to Action and Combatting “Greenwashing”

Guterres urged countries to enhance early warning systems for disasters and tackle misinformation and "greenwashing" practices, which are marketing trends used by some companies to portray themselves as environmentally friendly despite their polluting practices.

Global Division on Climate Policies

Guterres's warning comes at a time when international division on climate policies is deepening, following statements by former US President Donald Trump, who described climate change as "the biggest hoax," reflecting the political challenges facing global efforts to combat the environmental crisis.