United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a dire warning at the just-concluded London Climate Action Week about the fossil fuel-based development model, saying it “has no future”. He stressed that the world cannot depend on a system that is driving both the climate crisis and the energy crisis, referring to the fuel supply interruptions generated by the West Asia conflict.
After underlining the grave fossil-fuel generated concerns for the world, Guterres highlighted the way forward by laying out a seven-point roadmap for the world to emerge from the climate change-generated crisis and move towards sustainability.
Milestones for the future
1. We must act with far greater urgency to strictly limit the magnitude and duration of the global temperature rising beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius
“Science has laid out a clear roadmap: Emissions must peak immediately (and) fall steeply this decade (to) reach global net zero by 2050,” said Guterres, reminding that “the world remains dangerously off track (as) the latest national climate plans would reduce global emissions by only 10 per cent by 2035”.
He added: “Science tells us that emissions must fall by 60% over the same period to keep 1.5 degrees within reach. The G20 – which is responsible for around 80% of global emissions – must lead,” he further said.
The UN head pointed out that along with carbon dioxide, methane emission should also be curbed aggressively and launched “a global Call to Action on Methane”.
2. We must address today’s energy crisis without deepening dependence on the fuels driving it
“Around the globe, powerful voices continue to insist on more coal mines, more oil fields, more gas expansion. This, at a time when
The world will not even be able to use all the fossil fuels already accessible, let alone gamble on new supplies and infrastructure that risk becoming obsolete well before the end of their economic life,” said Guterres, clearly pointing the finger at global leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who is still rooting for fossil fuel.
3. As demand for energy continues to rise, we must confront one of its fastest growing sources: AI data centres
“Artificial intelligence (AI) can accelerate climate solutions. It can help cure disease, transform education, and enable humanity to tackle challenges once thought beyond our reach. We must harness that potential. But AI is also hungry for land, water and power. The data centres behind it already consume more electricity than most nations,” said Guterres. “By 2030, they could use more power than all but five countries – and enough water to meet the basic needs of all 1.3 billion residents of sub‑Saharan Africa for an entire year,” he added.
4. We must deliver a Just Transition
“History teaches a hard lesson: the greatest threat is not a transition itself – but the failure to manage it. That is the risk we face today. The energy transition is not moving in a coherent way. Fossil fuel investment continues even as clean energy grows. Countries are pulling in different directions,” Guterres observed.
He said that all stakeholders in Just Transition are not clear about the future ahead and pointed out that “we need a shared, practical effort focused on delivery…A space that brings together producers and consumers, developed and developing countries, finance, industry, labour and civil society.”
He promised: “I will convene leaders in September to help drive this work forward in advance of the UN Climate Conference – COP31 – in Türkiye.”
5. We must do far more to protect people and communities from the immediate effects of the climate chaos
“Because even at full speed, we cannot outrun climate change. Its impacts are already here – compounding and cascading,” explained Guterres.
“Adaptation is essential, yet adaptation has long been framed as charity…That’s wrong (as) climate impacts are already reshaping development, stability and security,” he pointed out.
“We need more effective insurance and risk-sharing systems (and) contingency systems that can act before shocks become humanitarian and economic catastrophes,” he stressed.
He said that “developed countries need to deliver on their long-standing commitment to double adaptation finance – with a clear trajectory towards tripling it.”
6. All of this requires finance at the scale, speed, and fairness that both crises demand.
“Today, the global financial system is failing the countries that need support most. It overprices risk – and underprices opportunity. Many developing countries face borrowing costs for clean energy and resilience that can run two to three times more than in wealthier economies,” he said.
Guterres claimed that countries rich in renewable potential are being locked out of the clean energy revolution and pointed at Africa as an example. “Africa is home to 60 per cent of the world’s best solar resources…, 30% of critical minerals …and one-fifth of humanity. Yet it receives just two per cent of global clean energy investment,” the UN head said.
“Developed countries must keep their promises, including support to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage and the Green Climate Fund,” he said, adding that “The USD 300 billion pledged to developing countries must be delivered – with concrete steps to mobilise USD 1.3 trillion a year by 2035.”
7. We must protect science – and truth itself.
“Science has given humanity the ability to understand the risks before catastrophe strikes. Yet disinformation is spreading – deliberately – to delay climate action, entrench vested interests, and erode trust. We must act to protect scientific independence; strengthen trust in evidence and institutions,” said the official, urging all to safeguard human rights defenders and journalists reporting on climate and the environment;