UN chief warns climate crisis outpacing global efforts at COP31 in Turkiye

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned at COP31 in Antalya, Turkiye, that the climate crisis is outpacing global efforts, urging leaders to eliminate fossil fuels to avert disaster. Guterres accused the fossil fuel lobby of delaying climate action, noting 2025 emissions hit record highs and the last four years were the hottest ever. He called for coal, gas, and oil to be phased out. COP31 host Turkiye promotes a voluntary electrification initiative targeting 35 percent of global energy consumption by 2035. Several major leaders, including from the US and France, are skipping the summit.