On June 5, 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a powerful speech titled "A Moment of Truth" at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. This address emphasized the urgent need for global climate action to meet the Paris Agreement's target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Guterres highlighted that this target is now "hanging by a thread" due to rising emissions and inadequate responses from nations and industries.
In his speech, Guterres called for several specific actions, including a ban on advertising by fossil fuel companies and a significant increase in investments in renewable energy. He stressed that the next 18 months are crucial for making the necessary changes to prevent catastrophic climate impacts. He also urged the G7 and G20 countries to lead by example and implement bold policies to curb emissions.
Guterres’ message was clear: the world must act now to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, and this requires unprecedented global cooperation and immediate, decisive action.