UN Chief Gives Interview from Melting Antarctica Ahead of Global Climate Summit

(Patria) - Ahead of international climate negotiations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Antarctica, where ice frozen for millions of years is melting due to climate change caused by human activity, to send a message that “we absolutely must act now,” AP reported.

“What happens in Antarctica does not stay in Antarctica,” Guterres said.

Besides reflecting a lot of sunlight away from Earth, Antarctica regulates the planet’s climate as its ice and cold waters drive major ocean currents. When vast amounts of ice melt, it raises sea levels and changes things like ocean animal salinity and habitats.

At the annual Conference known as COP, nations are supposed to come together to make and strengthen commitments to tackle climate change, but so far it has not been nearly enough to slow the emissions causing warming.

Guterres is on a three-day official visit to South America. Chilean President Gabriel Boric joined him on an official visit to the Chilean Eduardo Frei base on King George Island. Scientists and members of the Chilean military were with Guterres on a ship where they observed glaciers and seabirds, including penguins.

Guterres described COP28, which begins next week in Dubai, as an opportunity for nations to “decide on the gradual phase-out of fossil fuels within an appropriate timeframe” to prevent the world from warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.

Scientists consider this an important threshold to avoid devastating climate change for millions of people. But such a phase-out has not found its way into agreements that have emerged from these conferences so far, and the influence of fossil fuel companies and countries has been strong.

Guterres said that the COP28 conference also gives nations an opportunity to commit to more renewable energy projects and improve the energy efficiency of existing power grids and technologies.

Sultan al-Jaber, the head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, is the president of this year's negotiations, and the UN chief said that his ties to the sector give him “greater responsibility” to encourage the fossil fuel industry to invest in clean energy.

“He must be able to explain to everyone responsible in the fossil fuel industry, especially the oil and gas industry that is making obscene profits around the world, that now is the time to use those earnings instead of doubling down on fossil fuels,” Guterres said.

Pope Francis will also be the first pontiff to attend a UN climate conference, and Guterres said he “greatly hopes” that the Pope’s presence will convey to political leaders that it is a “moral imperative to put climate action as an absolute priority and do everything that is necessary to move away from the suicidal path we are on today.”