UN chief: Big oil treats atmosphere like 'open sewer' at UNGA81

Outgoing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched a sharp attack on major oil companies Tuesday, accusing them of treating the atmosphere like an "open sewer" during the UN's high-level meeting. Guterres noted that five major Western oil firms have pocketed nearly half a trillion dollars in profits since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, contrasting this with only $34 billion mobilized for developing countries' climate adaptation. He compared the industry's "abuse of power" to Big Tobacco's actions. His remarks follow record northern hemisphere summer heat and devastating floods in Nepal, with the UN warning the world will temporarily breach the 1.5C Paris Agreement limit. Guterres pointed to renewable energy growth as a source of hope ahead of Wednesday's climate summit and November's COP31 talks in Antalya.