UN chief urges halt to new fossil fuel projects as El Niño intensifies global heat

U.N. Secretary‑General António Guterres urged an immediate halt to the approval of new fossil‑fuel projects on Tuesday, warning that the intensifying impacts of the current El Niño episode are already amplifying climate‑related hazards worldwide. In a statement delivered at a virtual briefing on climate action, Guterres highlighted a surge in extreme heatwaves across Europe and Asia, unprecedented flooding in parts of South America and Africa, and worsening drought conditions in Australia and the western United States, all of which he linked to the combined effect of El Niño and unabated greenhouse‑gas emissions.

The Secretary‑General called on governments, investors and financial institutions to redirect capital toward renewable energy and climate‑resilient infrastructure, emphasizing that delaying the transition will lock in emissions that exacerbate the severity and frequency of such events. He referenced the latest U.N. climate report, which projects that without a rapid phase‑out of new fossil‑fuel development, global temperature rise could exceed 1.5 °C by the early 2030s, further intensifying weather extremes. Guterres also urged the upcoming U.N. climate summit to adopt binding commitments that prioritize phasing out coal, oil and gas expansions.

By linking the immediate weather disruptions to the broader trajectory of climate change, Guterres framed the El Niño phenomenon as a warning sign that underscores the urgency of curbing fossil‑fuel expansion. He concluded that decisive, coordinated action now is essential to limit future climate risks and protect vulnerable populations from the escalating impacts of heat, flood and drought.