Earth faces age of destruction – UN

CLIMATE change is leading the world into ‘uncharted territories of destruction’, the head of the UN has warned at the launch of a major scientific study.

The United in Science report, coordinated by the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation, forecasts that ‘without ambitious action, the physical and socioeconomic impacts of climate change will be devastating’.

It said greenhouse gas levels – largely carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels – continue to rise after a brief drop due to lockdowns during the pandemic.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said the world was ‘way off track’ with climate action stalling and added there was ‘nothing natural’ about the heatwaves in Europe, floods in Pakistan, and severe droughts in China, parts of Africa and the US.

He added: ‘ The current fossil fuel free-for-all must end now.’