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UN CHIEF’S MESSAGE

June 05, 2026 00:00:00


This World Environment Day, warning signals are everywhere.

The past eleven years have been the eleven hottest on record.

And the damage goes far beyond rising temperatures - from polluted air to degraded land, collapsing ecosystems, and vanishing biodiversity.

Harming health, destroying homes and deepening hunger.

The world is heading for a temporary overshoot above 1.5 degrees.

Every fraction of a degree brings greater harm - especially to the most vulnerable.

Our task is to make that overshoot as small, as short, and as safe as possible - and rapidly bring temperatures back down.

That means slashing emissions.

Accelerating a just transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewables - the only sustainable path to lower costs and to real energy security.

Cutting methane - one of the fastest, cheapest ways to limit near-term warming.

Protecting forests, land, and seas.

Helping communities adapt to the devastating impacts already here.

And it means fulfilling climate finance promises to developing countries - to save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen economies.

This is the moment to act - for our environment and for our future.

António Guterres

UN Secretary-General


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