UN chief: 'Half of humanity is in the danger zone'

Wildfires and heatwaves wreaking havoc across the globe show humanity facing "collective suicide", the UN secretary general has warned, as governments scramble to protect people from extreme heat.

- Fiona Harvey

Antonio Guterres told ministers from 40 countries meeting to discuss the climate crisis on Monday: "Half of humanity is in the danger zone, from floods, droughts, extreme storms and wildfires. No nation is immune. Yet we continue to feed our fossil fuel addiction." He added: "We have a choice. Collective action or collective suicide. It is in our hands."

Wildfires raged last weekend across Europe and North America. In South America, the Macchu Picchu archaeological site was threatened by fire.

Extreme heat has broken records as heatwaves have struck India and south Asia, droughts have devastated parts of Africa, and unprecedented heatwaves at both poles simultaneously astonished scientists in March.

In the UK, an extreme heat warning was issued with temperatures expected to exceed the hottest ever recorded in the country and highs above 40C forecast for the start of the week.