UN chief warns 'era of global boiling has arrived' as July set to be hottest month ever recorded

By Betul Yuruk

UNITED NATIONS (AA) - The head of the UN warned Thursday that ''the era of global boiling has arrived'' as July is set to be the hottest month ever recorded on Earth.

''Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning. The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived,'' Antonio Guterres told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. ''Leaders must lead. No more hesitancy. No more excuses. No more waiting for others to move first. There is simply no more time for that.''

July is on track to be the hottest month ever, according to the World Meteorological Organization and the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Data shows July has seen the highest-ever ocean temperatures for this time of the year.

Guterres said it is possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the very worst of climate change.

The Paris Climate Agreement reached in 2015 aims to limit global warming to well below 2 C, preferably to 1.5 C, by the end of the century to combat climate change it has requested that nations cut their emissions by half by 2030 and down to net-zero by 2050.

''We need ambitious new national emissions reduction targets from G20 members,'' said Guterres.

He urged companies as well as cities, regions, and financial institutions to come to the Climate Ambition Summit with credible transition plans.

''No more greenwashing. No more deception. And no more abusive distortion of anti-trust laws to sabotage net zero alliances,'' he said. ''The evidence is everywhere: humanity has unleashed destruction. This must not inspire despair, but action. We can still stop the worst.'' he added.