AP Exclusive: Departing UN chief calls this ‘a moment of truth’ in fight to curb global warming

As United Nations climate talks commence in Turkey on Monday, Secretary-General António Guterres delivers a stern warning to world leaders: "This is a moment of truth." The 10-year tenure of Guterres, who will step down at the end of the year, marks the final push in his fight against global warming. Speaking about the urgency of the situation, Guterres said, "We can no longer wait, we can no longer have endless discussions in which everybody tries to push the responsibility to someone else. Everybody must do more, everybody must do more now."

The Secretary-General has been using this phrase repeatedly in recent months, even going as far as saying, "the era of global boiling has arrived" three years ago. However, during his recent interview with The Associated Press, Guterres revealed that he received a "moment of truth" from scientists when he consulted them before a major speech on climate.

He was told that the world's goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times was no longer achievable due to excessive carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions.

Guterres emphasized that the real failure lies in political leadership, not in the global situation. He highlighted the need for a long-term strategic view in protecting the planet, as many political systems lack such long-term planning. Despite the numerous threats, including the war in Ukraine, Iran, and the impacts of artificial intelligence, Guterres remains hopeful due to the rising costs of wind and solar power as alternatives to fossil fuels.

The Secretary-General's warning echoes his 2023 visit to Nepal, where he warned of the devastating consequences of future floods and landslides triggered by retreating glaciers. Regretfully, he admitted that the melting glaciers came sooner than he expected. Guterres called for taxing windfall profits from fossil fuel companies and investing the funds in helping victims of climate change.