ABUJA, Nigeria – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged governments, businesses and other stakeholders to sustain global climate action, warning against allowing political changes or leadership transitions to weaken efforts to address rising temperatures.
Guterres made the appeal during his final appearance at a United Nations climate conference as Secretary-General, at COP31 on Friday. In his farewell address and final climate press conference, he called on world leaders to follow scientific evidence and move beyond promises to deliver practical action against the climate crisis. “Face the facts. Follow the science. Choose the future. And never give up,” he said.
His message came as delegates continued negotiations at COP31, seeking agreement on outstanding issues, including emissions reduction, climate finance and the transition to cleaner energy. Throughout his decade-long tenure, Guterres has repeatedly called for stronger action to limit global warming, urging governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect vulnerable communities from the consequences of climate change.
The UN climate team commended his sustained advocacy, particularly his insistence that scientific evidence should guide international climate policy. Indigenous Peoples attending the conference also paid tribute to his support for their rights and recognition of their role in protecting forests, preserving nature and strengthening climate resilience.
Climate finance featured prominently at the conference, with finance ministers meeting under the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action to discuss how governments could integrate climate considerations into national budgets, economic policies and investment decisions. The discussions highlighted the role of finance ministries in mobilising funding for climate programmes, particularly in developing countries facing growing costs from extreme weather events and other climate-related impacts.
Developing countries have continued to call for adequate financial support to strengthen climate adaptation, build resilience and transition towards low-carbon economies. Another major development at COP31 was a gathering on the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, which has moved from years of negotiations towards implementation.
The mechanism is intended to provide a framework for international carbon crediting under the Paris Agreement. Guterres’ farewell appearance came as delegates continued efforts to bridge differences on key climate issues.
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