Brazil Guterres at UN climate conference: "Leadership is needed now"
At the World Climate Conference in Brazil, UN Secretary-General António Guterres made a passionate appeal to the 200 or so countries to enter the final phase of negotiations with courage and a willingness to compromise.
20.11.2025, 16:36
SDA
"Leadership is needed now. Be courageous. Follow the scientific findings. Put people before profit," he said in Belém. The "only red line" is the goal agreed in Paris ten years ago of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Surprisingly clearly, Guterres supported a central demand of the developing countries - namely a tripling of financial aid to adapt to global warming by 2030. This was "unavoidable", he said.
Guterres also welcomed "the growing coalition" of states that are calling for clarity at the UN meeting in terms of moving away from oil, gas and coal. This is "a necessity in terms of climate policy." A good 80 other countries are urgently calling for this. It is a central controversial issue at the COP30, which is scheduled to end on Friday evening (22:00 CET).
Guterres to Trump: "We are waiting for you."
Asked what message he had for US President Donald Trump, whose delegation is missing in Belém, Guterres said: "We are waiting for you."
Guterres once again warned that the world was heading for global warming of well over two degrees compared to pre-industrial times - even if all of the countries' climate protection plans were implemented. "This is a death sentence for many. These national plans must be a lower limit, not an upper limit."
Gutteres also expressly backed a key goal of the Brazilian hosts to better protect the world's forests. "It is essential to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030 - so that nature remains a protective shield and does not become a victim."
