In a blunt warning to the world, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared that the era of global warming has ended and we have now entered an “era of global boiling.”
The alarming statement came as scientists confirmed that July 2023 is on track to become the hottest month ever recorded in human history. The past three weeks have been the hottest since records began, with global temperatures shattering previous records. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation programme attribute this unprecedented heat to the burning of fossil fuels, which has led to violent weather patterns.
“Humanity is in the hot seat,” Guterres told a press conference on July 27. “For vast parts of North America, Asia, Africa and Europe, it is a cruel summer. For the entire planet, it is a disaster. And for scientists, it is unequivocal – humans are to blame,” he added.
The UN Secretary-General emphasised that while it is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, this would require immediate and dramatic climate action.
Despite initiatives such as the rollout of renewable energy sources and initiatives from sectors such as shipping, he stressed that these efforts are not going far enough or fast enough. “Accelerating temperatures demand accelerated action,” he warned, underlining the urgency of the situation.
