DUBAI, UAE – Raising warning that current policies and ‘business-as-usual’ development business models have been catapulting the planet’s tumble into ‘crash and burn’ with 3.0-degree Celsius temperature rise, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres sent a clear message to all countries on the need for clear and definitive timelines on the phaseout of fossil fuels.

In his remarks during the World Climate Action Summit at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), he highlighted the need for drastic cut in emissions; and that can only be achieved by total scrapping of fossil fuels.

“Current policies would lead to an earth-scorching three-degree temperature rise…we cannot save a burning planet with a firehose of fossil fuels,” he noted.

The UN secretary general emphasized “we must accelerate a just, equitable transition to renewables. The science is clear: the 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate.”

Guterres stressed “we are miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement – and minutes to midnight for the 1.5-degree limit. But it is not too late. You can prevent planetary crash and burn. We have the technologies to avoid the worst of climate chaos – if we act now.”

The way forward, according to the UN official, will be complete jettison from fossil fuels “with a clear timeframe aligned with 1.5 degrees.”

And in that very critical journey, he urged the G20 nations or the developed economies of the world - which represent 80% of the world’s emissions – to take the lead in saving the planet.

“I have a message for fossil fuel company leaders: your old road is rapidly aging. Do not double-down on an obsolete business model. Lead the transition to renewables. Make no mistake – the road to climate sustainability is also the only viable pathway to economic sustainability of your companies,” he declared.

Guterres conveyed that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) “has recommended ending our addiction to coal by 2030 in OECD countries and 2040 for the rest of the world.”

And as prescribed in the COP28 Global Stocktake report, which sets clear expectations for economy-wide nationally determined contributions (NDCs) on reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the UN official specified the need for countries “to speed up their net zero timelines - to get there as close as possible to 2040 in developed countries and 2050 in emerging economies.”

Another clear pathway for the world to track, he said, is “commit to triple renewables; double energy efficiency; and bring clean energy to all by 2030.”

He expounded “the economics are clear: the global shift to renewables is inevitable,” adding that “the only question is how much heating our planet will endure before it happens.”

To concretize the new goals being cemented at COP28, he similarly prodded “governments to help industry make the right choice – by regulating, legislating, putting a fair price on carbon, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and adopting a windfall tax on profits.”

The UN chief further said the Global Stocktake “must commit to a surge in finance, including for adaptation and loss and damage. And it must support reform of the multilateral development banks to leverage far more private finance at reasonable costs.”