United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made important statements about climate change at the press conference he held at the UN building.
Emphasizing that temperatures have recently reached record levels around the world, Guterres stated that July 21 was recorded as the hottest day in history.
“There is one truth that units our divided world: rising temperatures affect everyone,” Guterres said, adding that temperatures are rising for everyone around the world and that this situation affects billions of people.
Guterres noted that extreme heat can have deadly effects, and that heat waves have caused schools to close in some regions.
“Half a million people die every year due to extreme heat,” Guterres said, adding that this figure is 30 times the death toll caused by tropical storms.
Guterres emphasized that the main causes of extreme heat are the use of fossil fuels and climate change, and said, “Extreme heat has now become our new normal.”
The UN Secretary-General stated that the effects of this situation can be reduced and deaths can be prevented, and said, “Today we call for global action.”
“First of all, the most vulnerable segments of society must be protected,” said Guterres, adding that the heat does not affect everyone equally, and that the poor, pregnant women, women with disabilities, the elderly and children are particularly at greater risk .
Guterres stressed that protecting workers is also of great importance, noting that 70% of the global workforce is at high risk due to extreme heat.
At the same time, Guterres stated that the resilience of the economy and societies must be increased and underlined that radical solutions must be found to the problems causing the climate crisis.
“We must treat the disease, not the symptoms. This disease is destroying our own home. The name of the disease is addiction to fossil fuels. The cure for the disease is to combat climate change,” said Guterres, adding that countries must urgently stop consuming fossil fuels and called on world leaders to take action on this issue.
“The message is clear: temperatures are rising. Extreme heat is affecting people and the planet. The world must work to combat rising temperatures,” he said.
