It’s climate crunch time” when it comes to tackling rising carbon emissions the UN Secretary-General said, stressing that while the need for global action is unprecedented, so too are the opportunities for prosperity and sustainable development. Choosing the iconic Family Hall of Ocean Life at the American Museum of Natural History in New York to deliver his impassioned plea to grasp the solutions at hand, António Guterres warned that we stand at “a moment of truth”. “In the case of climate, we are not the dinosaurs. We are the meteor. We are not only in danger – we are the danger. But we are also the solution.”

Secretary-General António Guterres paid tribute to all peacekeepers serving under the UN flag and those who have died in the line of duty. He began the day by laying a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial Site on the grounds of UN Headquarters in New York in honour of the more than 4,300 “Blue Helmets” who lost their lives over the Organization’s nearly 80-year history. “The memory of our fallen Blue Helmets reminds us of the tragic human cost of conflict,” he said.  “Each loss underscores the urgent need to prevent violence, protect the most vulnerable, and spare no effort to end these deadly conflicts.” 

UN Secretary-General reiterated his appeal to Israel to stop any escalation in Gaza, amid reports that its forces have taken over key border crossings in Rafah. “The closure of both the Rafah and Karem Shalom crossings is especially damaging to an already dire humanitarian situation. They must be re-opened immediately,” Secretary-General António Guterres said at a press stakeout at UN Headquarters in New York. He called on the Israeli Government to stop any escalation and engage constructively in the ongoing diplomatic talks.

With the situation in Gaza “worsening by the day”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for Israeli and Hamas leaders currently taking part in intense negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement. “For the sake of the people of Gaza, for the sake of the hostages and their families in Israel and for the sake of the region and the wider world, I strongly encourage the Government of Israel and the Hamas leadership to reach now an agreement.” Mr. Guterres expressed fear that without an agreement, “the war, with all its consequences both in Gaza and across the region, will worsen exponentially”.

Top UN officials launched a fresh global campaign to tackle the climate emergency, with social media influencers, Indigenous leaders and corporate giants showing what they’ve done and what’s to come. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the initiative, driven by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), recognises an important truth in the climate battle: “it is not all doom and gloom”. “Many countries have the will to take more ambitious steps on climate action, but the world needs to mobilise to ensure there is a way,” he said at the Below 1.5 by 2025: The Plan launch event.