UN chief demands immediate and drastic emissions cuts as COP31 faces fossil fuel divide

ANTALYA, Türkiye | United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for immediate and drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, warning that the world faces a climate catastrophe unless governments accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and take stronger action to limit global warming.

Speaking at his final climate summit press conference on November 13, Guterres said global emissions must decline by approximately 6 percent annually over the next several years to limit the extent of global warming and eventually bring temperatures back below the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold.

An overshoot of the internationally agreed temperature limit is now inevitable, he said, but its severity and duration can still be reduced through urgent action.

“An overshoot of 1.5 degrees is now inevitable. And our responsibility is to keep it as small as possible, for as short a time as possible, and bring temperatures back below 1.5 degrees as quickly as we can,” Guterres said.

He warned that existing national climate commitments remain insufficient, with current projections pointing to global temperatures exceeding 2.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. Such warming would intensify extreme weather events, displacement, food insecurity and other climate-related threats.

Guterres stressed that fossil fuels remain the principal driver of the climate crisis and called for an accelerated, fair and orderly transition toward renewable energy.

He also criticized the disproportionate influence of the fossil fuel industry in climate negotiations, saying governments must not allow commercial interests to undermine efforts to protect the planet.

“The future of our planet cannot be negotiated on the terms of those profiting from its destruction,” he said.

The warning came as disagreements over fossil fuel commitments dominated the first week of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP31, in Antalya, Türkiye. Major fossil fuel producers and consumers have resisted proposals that would establish firm targets or specific commitments to move away from coal, oil and natural gas.

Türkiye, as conference host, is pushing for a global electrification initiative that would increase electricity’s share of total energy consumption from approximately 21 percent to 35 percent by 2035. The proposal seeks to accelerate the replacement of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, heating systems and industrial equipment with electricity-based alternatives.

However, environmental groups have raised concerns because the proposed target does not require the additional electricity to come from renewable sources. They argue that electrification will not deliver sufficient emissions reductions if electricity generation continues to depend heavily on coal, oil and gas.

Guterres emphasized that expanding clean energy must go hand in hand with reducing fossil fuel production and consumption. He called for greater investment in renewable energy, electricity grids, energy storage and efficiency.

The climate chief also highlighted the widening gap between wealthy countries’ financial commitments and the needs of developing nations, particularly those most vulnerable to rising temperatures, extreme weather and sea-level rise.

He said developed countries must deliver the climate financing they have promised and substantially increase support for adaptation and loss and damage. Even tripling adaptation finance, he warned, would cover less than 30 percent of what developing countries need.

The issue is particularly urgent for small island nations and other vulnerable communities facing increasingly destructive storms, floods, droughts and rising seas despite contributing relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions.

The United Nations Environment Programme’s 2026 Emissions Gap Report further underscores the challenge. Released in October, the assessment found that even if countries fully implement their existing climate pledges, global warming could reach approximately 2.6 degrees Celsius by 2100. Under current policies, the projected increase is higher.

The report said limiting the overshoot and eventually returning to the 1.5-degree pathway would require global greenhouse gas emissions to fall by 18 percent by 2030, 45 percent by 2035 and 69 percent by 2040, compared with 2025 levels.

The 1.5-degree threshold was established under the 2015 Paris Agreement, a landmark international climate treaty adopted by 195 parties at COP21 in Paris. The agreement aims to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees.

Guterres also pointed to progress in renewable energy over the past decade, noting that technological advances and falling costs have made cleaner energy increasingly competitive. He said a transition away from fossil fuels would also strengthen energy security by reducing countries’ exposure to volatile fuel prices and geopolitical disruptions.

COP31, running from November 9 to 20 in Antalya, brings together governments, scientists, environmental organizations and other stakeholders to negotiate stronger climate commitments and accelerate implementation of existing agreements.

With negotiations continuing amid deep divisions over fossil fuels, emissions targets and climate financing, Guterres urged governments, particularly the world’s largest emitters, to close the gap between scientific warnings and political action.

He stressed that no country can protect itself from climate change alone, calling for stronger international cooperation to safeguard communities, economies and future generations.