UN Sec-Gen Warns Of ‘Climate Chaos’ Ahead of COP 27

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (dpa)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (dpa)
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UN Sec-Gen Warns Of ‘Climate Chaos’ Ahead of COP 27

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (dpa)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (dpa)

Weeks away from the 27th session of the UN Climate Conference (COP 27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of "climate chaos," explaining that the increasing emissions are at "an all-time high and rising."

He called on G20 of the world's wealthiest developed countries, companies, and investors to clarify their delivery of the $100 billion annual pledge to support climate action in developing countries.

The Sec-Gen was speaking at the pre-COP 27 ministerial preparatory meetings in Kinshasa amid efforts to curb the steady rise in atmospheric temperature, keeping it below the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold by 2040.

The earth's temperature has risen 1.1°C from pre-industrial levels, and current pledges and policies are shutting the door on the chance to limit global temperature rise to 2°C, let alone meet the 1.5°C, said Guterres, noting that the "work ahead is immense."

He indicated that "as immense as the climate impacts we are seeking around the world," climate change recently led to the flooding of a third of Pakistan, while Europe experienced "the hottest summer in 500 years," and the "whole of Cuba in black-out."

"Here, in the United States, Hurricane Ian has delivered a brutal reminder that no country and no economy is immune from the climate crisis."

He noted that while "climate chaos gallops ahead, climate action has stalled," considering that the Sharm el-Sheikh conference is "critical," but "we have a long way to go."

The Sec-Gen described the collective commitments of G20 governments as "far too little and far too late."

He reiterated that "there is no time to point fingers," urging "a game-changing, quantum level compromise between developed and emerging economies."

"Every government, every business, every investor, every institution must step up with concrete climate actions for net zero."

The Sec-Gen indicated that developed countries need to show evidence of how they will double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion in 2025, as agreed in Glasgow.

Guterres said Multilateral Development Banks, including the World Bank, must raise their game, considering the Resilience and Sustainability Trust led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a "good start."

The Small Island Developing States and other vulnerable middle-income countries need access to concessional finance for adaptation to protect their communities and infrastructure, asserted the Sec-Gen.

"I am urging leaders at the highest level to take full part in COP 27 and tell the world what climate action they will take nationally and globally," he concluded.



Activist Aid Ship Nears Gaza After Reaching Egypt Coast

 Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)
Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)
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Activist Aid Ship Nears Gaza After Reaching Egypt Coast

 Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)
Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)

An aid ship with 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, has reached the Egyptian coast and is nearing the besieged Palestinian territory, organizers said on Saturday.

The Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Sicily last week with a cargo of relief supplies "to break Israel's blockade on Gaza".

"We are now sailing off the Egyptian coast," German human rights activist Yasemin Acar told AFP. "We are all good," she added.

In a statement from London on Saturday, the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza -- a member organization of the flotilla coalition -- said the ship had entered Egyptian waters.

The group said it remains in contact with international legal and human rights bodies to ensure the safety of those on board, warning that any interception would constitute "a blatant violation of international humanitarian law".

European parliament member Rima Hassan, who is on board the vessel, urged governments to "guarantee safe passage for the Freedom Flotilla."

The Palestinian territory was under Israeli naval blockade even before the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that sparked the Gaza war and Israel has enforced its blockade with military action in the past.

A 2010 commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was part of a similar aid flotilla trying to breach the blockade, left 10 civilians dead.

In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, reported coming under drone attack while en route for Gaza, prompting Cyprus and Malta to send rescue vessels in response to its distress call. There were no reports of any casualties.

Earlier in its voyage, the Madleen changed course near the Greek island of Crete after receiving a distress signal from a sinking migrant boat.

Activists rescued four Sudanese migrants who had jumped into the sea to avoid being returned to Libya. The four were later transferred to an EU Frontex vessel.

Launched in 2010, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a coalition of groups opposed to the blockade on humanitarian aid for Gaza that Israel imposed on March 2 and has only partially eased since.

Israel has faced mounting international condemnation over the resulting humanitarian crisis in the territory, where the United Nations has warned the entire population of more than two million is at risk of famine.