BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — AS Caribbean nations continue rebuilding from devastating hurricanes and tropical storms, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivers a resounding message: action on climate change cannot wait.
At the 29th Conference of Parties (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, a central focus is securing climate financing for vulnerable, developing nations. Caribbean territories, increasingly affected by rising temperatures, stronger hurricanes, and coastal erosion, are still recovering from Hurricane Beryl, which recently ravaged Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In his remarks, Guterres emphasized the urgency: humanity is in a race against time to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. With the world on track to record its hottest year, surpassing 2023, his plea is dire.
"Families running for their lives before the next hurricane strikes. Biodiversity destroyed in sweltering seas. Workers and pilgrims collapsing in insufferable heat. Floods tearing through communities and tearing down infrastructure. Children going to bed hungry as droughts ravage crops. And all these disasters and more are being supercharged by human-made climate change,”," Guterres stated.
Despite ongoing skepticism, especially among some in the United States, climate impacts spare no nation. Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that while global inflation has eased, food prices remain stubbornly high, worsened by climate disruptions. Supply chain shocks drive up costs, decimated harvests increase food prices, and destroyed homes raise insurance premiums globally. Guterres called it a "this is a story of avoidable injustice" where "the rich cause the problem, the poor pay the highest price".
Guterres highlighted an Oxfam report indicating that billionaires emit more carbon in 90 minutes than the average person does in a lifetime. He warned that without a drastic reduction in emissions and greater climate adaptation, economies will continue to suffer. However, he expressed hope for change.
To meet the 1.5°C target, global emissions must decrease by 9% annually, reaching 43% below 2019 levels by 2030. Currently, emissions are still climbing. At COP 29, Guterres called for fair, effective carbon markets and urged leaders to adopt national climate action plans by the next conference, covering all emissions and sectors.
Guterres stressed the need to triple renewable energy capacity, double energy efficiency, halt deforestation, and reduce fossil fuel production by 30% by 2030. Achieving these goals requires aligning energy transition and sustainable development with climate action to attract investment.
