“We are the first generation with the tools to end the fossil fuel age – and the last who can avert climate catastrophe,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, calling on countries to draw up credible roadmaps with clear timelines to transition away from fossil fuels.
Key points: G20 countries, responsible for around 80 per cent of global emissions, must lead the transition; climate finance should reach $1.3 trillion a year by 2035, with at least $300 billion mobilized annually for developing countries; new initiatives announced around power grids and critical minerals, alongside a renewed push on early warning systems.
The appeal came in the middle of High-Level Week at UN Headquarters in New York, where the UN Climate Summit 2026 brought together leaders from major economies, vulnerable countries and major energy producers – alongside consumers – to push for faster climate action and greater cooperation.
by UN News – Guterres calls on countries to set clear timelines for transition away from fossil fuels
