UN Secretary Urges to Stop Taking Fossil Fuel Advertising
In a speech in New York, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a powerful message to the audience, stating,”We are not only in danger, we are the danger.”
Highlighting new data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Guterres underscored that the world is facing a “climate crunch time.” According to the data, there is an 80% chance the planet will exceed 1.5°C (2.7°F) in warming above pre-industrial levels in at least one of the next five years. A record already breached during the past 12 months.
Guterres: “We are the danger”
“We are playing Russian roulette with our planet. We need an exit ramp off the highway to climate hell. Like the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs, we’re having an outsized impact. In the case of climate, we are not the dinosaurs – we are the meteor. We are not only in danger – we are the danger” – Guterres warned.
The UN Secretary-General declared fossil fuel companies are “the god-father of climate chaos.” He urged news and tech media to stop taking money from fossil fuel advertising. He emphasised the urgency as the world struggles to limit the “climate crunch time.”
“It is a disgrace that the most vulnerable are being left stranded, struggling desperately to deal with a climate crisis they did nothing to create. We cannot accept a future where the rich are protected in air-conditioned bubbles, while the rest of humanity is lashed by lethal weather in unlivable lands,” he added.
Also, Guterres criticized fossil fuel companies for their minimal investments in cleaner forms of energy. Specifically, he accused them of”distorting the truth, deceiving the public, and sowing doubt” about climate science. He urged governments to ban fossil fuel advertising. And he called on public relations and media companies to cut ties with oil, gas, and coal interests.
A call to action: choosing the planet over profit
Guterres’ words sound strong but true: “We are not only in danger, we are the danger.” In conclusion, he added, “It’s ‘we, the peoples’ versus the polluters and the profiteers. Together, we can win. But it’s time for leaders to decide whose side they’re on.”
His message underscores the urgency and gravity of the climate crisis. And he calls for collective action and leadership to prioritise the planet over profit. By framing the fight against climate change as a battle between the people and those who perpetuate environmental harm, Guterres challenges leaders and citizens alike to take a stand for a sustainable future.
The time for decisive action is now. And the choice is clear: protect our planet or face the consequences of inaction.