He spoke at the launch of the World Meteorological Organization's state of the climate report, which said 2023 would be the hottest year recorded.
"This year has seen communities around the world pounded by fires, floods, and searing temperature - and the impact is devastating," Guterres said. "Record global heating should send shivers down the spines of world leaders. And it should trigger them to act."
The WMO report, timed to inform the negotiations at Cop28, said that climate records had been shattered in 2023, leaving "a trail of devastation and despair".
Data to the end of October showed 2023 was about 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, driven by the continued rise in fossil fuel burning and by the return of the El Niño climate pattern. The latter is likely to make 2024 another record year, and bring the internationally agreed limit of 1.5C ever nearer.
Denne historien er fra December 01, 2023-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra December 01, 2023-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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