UN climate chief says political division hampers response to economic security emergency

The head of the United Nations’ climate body warned on Thursday that framing global warming as a partisan issue is “dangerously out of step with reality,” after presenting a stark assessment of the economic damage already being inflicted on Europe by climate change. In a briefing to senior officials, the climate chief highlighted that extreme weather events across the continent have generated billions of euros in losses this year, with insurance claims rising by double‑digit percentages and agricultural output in several regions falling short of forecasts due to heatwaves and droughts.

The briefing cited recent data showing that floods, wildfires and severe storms have disrupted supply chains, strained energy systems and forced costly infrastructure repairs, collectively amounting to a multi‑billion‑euro toll on European economies. The UN official urged policymakers to move beyond political divisions and integrate climate resilience into economic planning, emphasizing that coordinated, cross‑party action is essential to mitigate further financial and social impacts.