Sharm el-Sheikh - The world is on a “highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator” unless drastic action is taken to curb global warming warned UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the first day of the COP27, the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The head of the United Nations made the impassioned plea to world leaders saying that humanity must “cooperate or perish,” and added that rich industrial nations must lead the way.

“Our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible. We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator,” Guterres said. “It is the defining issue of our age. It is the central challenge of our century.

But he noted, emerging economies must also do their bit to bend the global emissions curve, and he called out the world’s two biggest emitters, the United States and China, whom, he said, have a particular responsibility.

The COP27 conference began on Sunday, with world leaders gathering once again to discuss how to limit greenhouse gas emissions and prevent the world from warming to global average temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius, a mark already fast approaching.

Guterres warned the clock was ticking in the fight to stop the most disastrous effects of climate change and that the world is “losing” as greenhouse gas emissions and global temperatures continue to rise.

Guterres‘ appeal was echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron who said the US, China and other non-European rich nations must pay “their share” to help poorer nations deal with climate change.

Former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore told heads of state to “choose life over death” by ending the use of fossil fuels that are stoking climate change.

Ukraine war complicates fight against climate change
Guterres on Monday said world crises, such as the war in Ukraine, are further complicating the fight against climate change, but that nations should not deter from addressing “climate chaos.”

“Indeed, many of today’s conflicts are linked with growing climate chaos. The war in Ukraine has exposed the profound risks of our fossil fuel addiction,” he said. “Today’s crises cannot be an excuse for backsliding or greenwashing. If anything, they are a reason for greater urgency, stronger action and effective accountability.”

Energy crisis fuelling new gas projects
On the sidelines of the summit, environmental campaigners warned that the fossil fuel industry has been “emboldened” by the current global energy crunch and efforts by some countries to invest in new gas projects, particularly in Africa.

A spokesperson of the Climate Action Network claimed fossil fuel companies were attending the current U.N. climate talks in Egypt “in numbers” to influence negotiations.

Talks continue until 18 November. The Holy See is represented by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin who is scheduled to address the forum on Tuesday.

The most notable no-shows are China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi, leaders of the world’s largest and third-largest emitters.
-VN/TH