World Is On Frontline Of Disaster, Says UN Climate Chief

Leaders urged to stop dawdling’ and take action, as crucial summit on tackling climate crisis opens in Dubai

- Fiona Harvey

World leaders must “stop dawdling and start doing” on carbon emission cuts, as rapidly rising temperatures have put everyone on the frontline of disaster, the UN’s top climate official has warned.

No country could think itself immune from catastrophe, said Simon Stiell, who is overseeing the Cop28 climate summit that began this week. Scores of world leaders arrived in Dubai for tense talks on how to tackle the crisis.

“We’re used to talking about protecting people on the far-flung front lines. We’re now at the point where we’re all on the front line,” said Stiell before the summit. “Yet most governments are still strolling when they need to be sprinting.”

Global temperatures have set new records in recent months, making this year the hottest on record, and perilously close to the threshold of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels that countries have agreed to hold to. Temperatures are now heading for a “hellish” 3C increase, unless urgent and drastic action is taken, but greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise.

Stiell said it was still possible to cut greenhouse gas emissions enough to stay within the crucial limit, but that further delay would be dangerous.

“Every year of the baby steps we’ve been taking up to this point means that we need to be taking … bigger leaps with each following year if we are to stay in this race,” he said. “The science is absolutely clear.”