a speech on climate change

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6 Example Speeches on Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, affecting every corner of the globe and every aspect of our lives.

As a speaker, addressing this topic can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to inspire action and create meaningful change.

Example Speeches on Climate Change

In this article, we’ll explore six example speeches on climate change, each tailored to different audiences and occasions.

Whether you’re looking for a short, impactful speech or a longer, more in-depth exploration of the issue, you’ll find inspiration and guidance here.

So, let’s get started and see how we can use the power of words to tackle one of the greatest challenges of our generation.

Speech 1: A Call to Action (Short – 300 words)

Friends, we gather here today because our planet is in crisis. The science is clear: climate change is real, it’s happening now, and it’s caused by human activity. We’ve seen the devastating effects all around us – from rising sea levels and more frequent natural disasters to droughts, famines, and the loss of biodiversity. But we also know that it’s not too late to act. We have the power to change course, to build a more sustainable future for ourselves and for generations to come.

So, what can we do? First, we must recognize that every action counts. From the choices we make as individuals – like reducing our energy consumption and waste – to the policies we support as citizens, we all have a role to play. Second, we must hold our leaders accountable. We need bold, decisive action at every level of government to transition to clean energy, protect vulnerable communities, and build resilience against the impacts of climate change.

But most importantly, we must act together. Climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. We must stand united, across borders and differences, in our commitment to this fight. Because when we work together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

So let us leave here today with a renewed sense of purpose. Let us go out into the world and be the change we wish to see. Let us build a future where our planet thrives, where our communities are resilient, and where every person has the chance to live with dignity and hope. The time for action is now – let’s get to work.

— END OF SPEECH —

Commentary: This short speech is a powerful call to action on climate change. It acknowledges the severity of the problem, highlights the importance of individual and collective action, and ends with an inspiring vision for the future. This speech would be suitable for a rally, a community event, or any occasion where you want to motivate people to get involved in the fight against climate change.

Speech 2: The Business Case for Climate Action (Medium-length – 500 words)

As business leaders, we have a unique opportunity – and a profound responsibility – to drive the transition to a low-carbon economy. For too long, we’ve treated climate change as a distant threat, something to be dealt with in the future. But the reality is that the impacts of climate change are already being felt, and they pose significant risks to our businesses, our communities, and our planet.

The good news is that tackling climate change isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s also good for business. By investing in clean energy, sustainable supply chains, and climate-resilient infrastructure, we can not only reduce our environmental impact but also create new opportunities for growth and innovation.

Consider the facts: renewable energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels in many parts of the world, and the cost continues to fall. Companies that embrace sustainability are seeing increased customer loyalty, employee satisfaction, and investor confidence. And as governments around the world implement policies to drive the transition to a low-carbon economy, businesses that are ahead of the curve will be well-positioned to thrive.

But we can’t do it alone. We need policymakers to create the right incentives and frameworks to support our efforts. We need consumers to demand sustainable products and services. And we need every business, large and small, to join us in this critical mission.

So, let us seize this moment. Let us lead by example, showing the world that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. Let us work together to build a future where businesses prosper, communities thrive, and our planet is protected for generations to come. The path ahead won’t be easy, but with courage, collaboration, and a commitment to doing what’s right, we can rise to the challenge and create a better world for all.

Commentary: This speech makes a compelling business case for climate action. It acknowledges the risks that climate change poses to businesses, highlights the opportunities that come with the transition to a low-carbon economy and calls on business leaders to lead by example. This speech would be suitable for a business conference, a sustainability event, or any occasion where you want to encourage businesses to take action on climate change.

Speech 3: The Moral Imperative of Climate Action (Long – 700 words)

My fellow citizens, we stand at a crossroads in human history. The choices we make in the coming years will determine the fate of our planet and the future of generations to come. And there is no greater moral imperative of our time than to act on climate change.

For too long, we have treated our planet as if it were an endless resource, a dumping ground for our waste and pollution. We have prioritized short-term gains over long-term sustainability, and we have turned a blind eye to the consequences of our actions. But now, those consequences are catching up with us.

We see it in the rising seas that threaten our coastal cities, the wildfires that ravage our forests, and the droughts that decimate our crops. We see it in the mass extinction of species, the acidification of our oceans, the spread of disease, and conflict. Climate change is not just an environmental issue – it is a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions.

And yet, even in the face of this overwhelming evidence, there are still those who deny the reality of climate change, who prioritize profit over people, who cling to the status quo rather than embracing the need for change. But we cannot afford to be complacent or complicit any longer.

As a global community, we have a moral obligation to act. We must protect the most vulnerable among us, to safeguard the planet for future generations, to ensure that every person has the right to a livable future. This is not a partisan issue – it is a human issue, and it demands a human response.

So, what can we do? We must start by recognizing that climate change is a systemic problem that requires systemic solutions. We need to transform the way we produce and consume energy, the way we grow and distribute food, and the way we move and build and live. We need to invest in clean technologies, sustainable infrastructure, in resilient communities. And we need to do it now, with the urgency and the scale that this crisis demands.

But we cannot do it alone. We need every nation, every sector, and every individual to be part of the solution. We need to build a global movement for change, one that transcends borders and ideologies, one that unites us in our common humanity and our shared destiny.

So let us rise to this challenge. Let us summon the courage and the compassion to act, not just for ourselves, but for all those who will come after us. Let us be the generation that saves our planet, that secures a livable future for all. The time for action is now – let us meet this moment with the urgency and the moral clarity it demands. Thank you.

Commentary: This speech frames climate action as a moral imperative, highlighting the devastating impacts of climate change and the urgent need for systemic solutions. It calls on individuals, nations, and sectors to unite in a global movement for change and emphasizes the importance of acting with compassion and urgency. This speech would be suitable for a keynote address, a commencement speech, or any occasion where you want to inspire people to take bold, principled action on climate change.

Speech 4: The Role of Youth in Combating Climate Change (Long – 800 words)

Young people of the world, you are the inheritors of a planet in peril. You are the ones who will bear the brunt of the climate crisis, and you are the ones who have the most to lose if we fail to act. But you are also the ones who have the most to gain if we succeed – and you are the ones who have the power to lead us to a better future.

For too long, the voices of youth have been marginalized in the climate debate. You have been told that you are too young to understand, too naive to make a difference, and too powerless to effect change. But I stand here today to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth.

You are not just the future – you are the present. You are the ones who are taking to the streets, organizing strikes and protests, demanding action from those in power. You are the ones who are innovating new solutions, creating new businesses, and driving new technologies. You are the ones who are shaping the culture, influencing the conversation, setting the agenda for change.

And you are not alone. Around the world, young people are rising and speaking out, united in their determination to create a better, more sustainable future. From the school strikers of Europe to the Indigenous activists of the Amazon, from the green entrepreneurs of Africa to the climate justice advocates of Asia, you are part of a global movement that is growing stronger every day.

But the road ahead will not be easy. You will face resistance from those who benefit from the status quo, from those who are invested in the fossil fuel economy, and from those who are afraid of change. You will face setbacks and challenges, moments of doubt and despair.

But you must not lose heart. You must remember that you have the truth on your side, the science on your side, and the moral imperative on your side. You must remember that you are not fighting for yourselves alone, but for all those who will come after you, for the generations yet unborn.

So let us stand together, young and old, rich and poor, from every corner of the globe. Let us build a movement that is inclusive, intersectional, and unstoppable. Let us demand action from our leaders, hold them accountable for their promises, and work to elect those who share our vision for a just and sustainable future.

And let us never forget that the power to change the world lies within each of us. Every action we take, every choice we make, every voice we raise – no matter how small – can make a difference. So let us go forth from this place with courage, with conviction, with hope. Let us be the change we wish to see in the world. Let us create a future that we can be proud of, a future that we can pass on to those who come after us. The time is now – let us seize it together.

Commentary: This speech is a powerful call to action for young people, emphasizing their crucial role in the fight against climate change. It acknowledges the challenges they face but also highlights their unique strengths and the importance of building an inclusive, intersectional movement. The speech ends with an inspiring message of hope and empowerment, urging young people to seize the moment and create a better future for all. This speech would be ideal for a youth climate conference, a university event, or any occasion where you want to mobilize and inspire young people to take action on climate change.

Speech 5: The Intersection of Climate Change and Social Justice (Lengthy – 1,000 words)

Friends, we have gathered here today to discuss one of the most pressing issues of our time – the intersection of climate change and social justice. For too long, these two issues have been treated as separate and distinct, as if the impacts of a warming planet could be neatly compartmentalized from the struggles for equality, dignity, and human rights. But the truth is that climate change is not just an environmental crisis – it is a human rights crisis, and it is a crisis that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable and marginalized among us.

Consider the facts: the communities that are most impacted by climate change – low-income communities, communities of color, and indigenous communities – are also the communities that have contributed the least to the problem. They are the ones who bear the brunt of the rising seas and the extreme weather events, the ones who suffer the most from the health impacts of air and water pollution, and the ones who are most likely to be displaced by drought, famine, and conflict.

And yet, these are also the communities that have been systematically excluded from the decision-making processes that shape our response to the climate crisis. Their voices have been silenced, their needs have been ignored, and their rights have been denied. This is not just an injustice – it is a fundamental failure of our democracy and our humanity.

But we cannot address climate change without addressing these underlying inequities. We cannot build a sustainable future on a foundation of inequality and exploitation. We cannot solve a global problem with solutions that leave entire populations behind.

So, what do we do? We start by recognizing that climate justice and social justice are inextricably linked. We cannot have one without the other. We need to approach the climate crisis with an intersectional lens, understanding how it intersects with issues of race, class, gender, and power.

We need to center the voices and experiences of those who are most impacted by climate change and ensure that they have a seat at the table when decisions are being made. We need to invest in community-led solutions, resilience, and adaptation strategies that are grounded in local knowledge and experience.

We need to hold corporations and governments accountable for their role in perpetuating the climate crisis and the inequities that it exacerbates. We need to demand a just transition to a clean energy economy, one that creates good jobs and opportunities for all, not just a privileged few.

And we need to build a movement that is truly inclusive and intersectional, one that recognizes the interconnectedness of all our struggles and all our hopes. We need to stand in solidarity with those who are fighting for justice on all fronts – from the streets of Ferguson to the forests of the Amazon, from the mines of Appalachia to the island nations of the Pacific.

This is not an easy task. It will require us to confront uncomfortable truths, challenge entrenched systems of power, to build new alliances and coalitions. But it is a task that we must undertake, for the sake of our planet and our people.

Because in the end, we are all in this together. We all share one planet, one home, one future. And we all have a role to play in shaping that future – not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.

So let us leave here today with a renewed commitment to justice, equity, to solidarity. Let us work to build a world where every person has the right to a livable planet, a world where the benefits and burdens of climate action are shared fairly and equitably, and a world where we recognize our common humanity and our common fate.

The road ahead will not be easy, but we have the power to choose the path we take. Let us choose the path of justice, the path of compassion, the path of a sustainable and equitable future for all. Thank you.

Commentary: This speech powerfully articulates the intersection of climate change and social justice, highlighting how the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect marginalized communities. It calls for an intersectional approach to climate action, one that centers the voices and experiences of those most impacted and invests in community-led solutions. The speech emphasizes the need for accountability, a just transition, and an inclusive, intersectional movement. It ends with a stirring call to action, urging the audience to commit to justice, equity, and solidarity in the fight for a sustainable future. This speech would be suitable for a social justice conference, an environmental justice event, or any occasion where you want to highlight the systemic inequities of the climate crisis and inspire people to take intersectional action.

Speech 6: Climate Change and the Future of Humanity (Lengthy – 1,000 words or more)

My fellow humans, we stand at a pivotal moment in the history of our species. The choices we make in the coming years will determine not just the fate of our planet, but the fate of humanity itself. And there is no greater threat to our future than the reality of climate change.

For decades, we have known that our addiction to fossil fuels, our relentless consumption and waste, and our disregard for the natural world – all these things have been pushing our planet to the brink. We have seen the evidence in the melting of the polar ice caps, the bleaching of the coral reefs, and the extinction of countless species. We have felt the impacts of the rising temperatures and the extreme weather events, the droughts and the floods, and the wildfires that have become the new normal.

And yet, even in the face of this overwhelming evidence, we have been slow to act. We have been held back by the forces of inertia and denial, by the vested interests of those who profit from the status quo, and by the short-sightedness of those who prioritize present gains over future sustainability.

But we cannot afford to wait any longer. The science is clear: if we do not take urgent and dramatic action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, transition to a clean energy economy, to transform the way we live work, and consume – then we risk crossing irreversible tipping points that will lead to catastrophic and irreversible climate change.

This is not just an environmental issue – it is an existential threat to human civilization as we know it. It is a threat to our food and water security, to our public health and safety, to our economic stability and geopolitical security. It is a threat to the very foundations of our society and our way of life.

But it is also an opportunity – an opportunity to reimagine our relationship with the natural world, to build a more just and equitable society, and to create a future that is not just sustainable, but regenerative and thriving.

We have the tools and the knowledge to make this transition. We have renewable energy technologies, sustainable agriculture practices, the green infrastructure solutions. We have the economic models and policy frameworks, the social movements, and cultural shifts.

What we need now is the political will and the moral courage to act. We need leaders who are willing to stand up to the fossil fuel industry, to the corporate polluters, to the forces of greed and exploitation. We need citizens who are willing to demand change, to hold their governments accountable, and to make the necessary sacrifices and investments.

And we need to do it together – as a global community, as a human family. Because climate change knows no borders, no boundaries, no divisions of race or class or creed. It affects us all, and it will take all of us to solve it.

So let us rise to this challenge, let us seize this moment. Let us look to the examples of those who have gone before us – the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded this land for generations, the environmental activists who have fought tirelessly for change, and the scientists and innovators who have given us the tools to build a better world.

Let us draw strength from their courage and their wisdom, and let us add our voices and actions to the growing chorus for change. Let us build an unstoppable movement, a movement that is rooted in love, justice, and compassion for all living things.

And let us never forget what is at stake – the future of our children and grandchildren, the future of all the species with whom we share this planet, and the future of life itself. We are the guardians of this precious and fragile world, and it is our sacred duty to protect it.

So let us go forth from this place with a renewed sense of purpose and urgency. Let us work to create a world where clean air, water, and soil are not luxuries but fundamental rights, where renewable energy powers our homes and our economies, and where nature is valued, protected, and restored.

Let us create a world where every person has the opportunity to thrive, where poverty and inequality are relics of the past, and where justice and compassion are the guiding principles of our society. Let us create a world that is worthy of the sacrifices and the struggles of those who came before us, and that is a testament to the boundless potential of the human spirit.

This is our moment, our opportunity, our responsibility. Let us rise to meet it with everything we have, with all the love, courage, and determination in our hearts. For the sake of our planet, for the sake of our children, for the sake of our very survival – let us act, and let us act now. Thank you.

Commentary: This speech is a powerful and impassioned call to action on climate change, framing it as an existential threat to human civilization and a moral imperative for urgent and dramatic action. It highlights the devastating impacts of climate change, the forces of inertia and denial that have held us back, and the opportunities for a just and sustainable transition. The speech calls for political will, moral courage, and global solidarity in the face of this crisis and ends with a stirring vision of a world transformed by a movement rooted in love, justice, and compassion. This speech would be ideal for a major international conference, a UN summit, or any high-profile event where you want to galvanize global action on climate change and inspire people with a transformative vision of the future.

Climate change is a complex and intimidating challenge, but it is also an opportunity to build a better world.

By crafting powerful and persuasive speeches, we can inspire others to action, mobilize communities and movements, and create the political will for change.

Whether you’re speaking to a small group or a global audience, remember to frame the issue in terms that resonate with your listeners, highlight both the urgency of the crisis and the opportunities for solutions, and call people to action with a vision of a just and sustainable future.

Together, we can rise to meet this moment and create a world that is worthy of the generations to come.

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Transcript: Greta Thunberg's Speech At The U.N. Climate Action Summit

Climate activist Greta Thunberg, 16, addressed the U.N.'s Climate Action Summit in New York City on Monday. Here's the full transcript of Thunberg's speech, beginning with her response to a question about the message she has for world leaders.

"My message is that we'll be watching you.

"This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you!

"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!

'This Is All Wrong,' Greta Thunberg Tells World Leaders At U.N. Climate Session

"For more than 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and come here saying that you're doing enough, when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight.

"You say you hear us and that you understand the urgency. But no matter how sad and angry I am, I do not want to believe that. Because if you really understood the situation and still kept on failing to act, then you would be evil. And that I refuse to believe.

"The popular idea of cutting our emissions in half in 10 years only gives us a 50% chance of staying below 1.5 degrees [Celsius], and the risk of setting off irreversible chain reactions beyond human control.

"Fifty percent may be acceptable to you. But those numbers do not include tipping points, most feedback loops, additional warming hidden by toxic air pollution or the aspects of equity and climate justice. They also rely on my generation sucking hundreds of billions of tons of your CO2 out of the air with technologies that barely exist.

"So a 50% risk is simply not acceptable to us — we who have to live with the consequences.

"To have a 67% chance of staying below a 1.5 degrees global temperature rise – the best odds given by the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] – the world had 420 gigatons of CO2 left to emit back on Jan. 1st, 2018. Today that figure is already down to less than 350 gigatons.

"How dare you pretend that this can be solved with just 'business as usual' and some technical solutions? With today's emissions levels, that remaining CO2 budget will be entirely gone within less than 8 1/2 years.

"There will not be any solutions or plans presented in line with these figures here today, because these numbers are too uncomfortable. And you are still not mature enough to tell it like it is.

"You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you.

"We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up. And change is coming, whether you like it or not.

"Thank you."

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Four Powerful Climate Change Speeches to Inspire You

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Looking to be inspired to take action on climate change? Watch these four powerful climate change speeches, and get ready to change the world.

Climate change is the most pressing concern facing us and our planet. As such, we need powerful action, and fast, from both global leaders and global corporations, right down to individuals.

I’ve got over 70 climate change and sustainability quotes to motivate people and inspire climate action. But if it is more than quotes you need then watch these four impassioned climate change speeches. These speeches are particularly good if you are looking for even more inspiration to inspire others to take climate action.

The Sustainability Speeches To Motivate You

Here are the speeches to know – I’ve included a video of each speech plus a transcript to make it easy to get all the information you need. Use the quick links to jump to a specific speech or keep scrolling to see all the speeches.

Greta Thunberg’s Climate Change Speech at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit

Leonardo dicaprio’s climate change speech at the 2014 un climate summit, yeb sano’s climate change speech at the united nations climate summit in warsaw, greta thunberg’s speech at houses of parliament.

In September 2019 climate activist Greta Thunberg addressed the U.N.’s Climate Action Summit in New York City with this inspiring climate change speech:

Here’s the full transcript of Greta Thunberg’s climate change speech. It begins with Greta’s response to a question about the message she has for world leaders.

My message is that we’ll be watching you.

This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you!

You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!

For more than 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and come here saying that you’re doing enough when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight.

You say you hear us and that you understand the urgency. But no matter how sad and angry I am, I do not want to believe that. Because if you really understood the situation and still kept on failing to act, then you would be evil. And that I refuse to believe.

The popular idea of cutting our emissions in half in 10 years only gives us a 50% chance of staying below 1.5°C, and the risk of setting off irreversible chain reactions beyond human control.

Fifty per cent may be acceptable to you. But those numbers do not include tipping points, most feedback loops, additional warming hidden by toxic air pollution or the aspects of equity and climate justice. They also rely on my generation sucking hundreds of billions of tons of your CO 2 out of the air with technologies that barely exist.

So a 50% risk is simply not acceptable to us — we who have to live with the consequences.

To have a 67% chance of staying below a 1.5°C global temperature rise – the best odds given by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – the world had 420 gigatons of CO 2 left to emit back on January 1st, 2018. Today that figure is already down to less than 350 gigatons.

How dare you pretend that this can be solved with just ‘business as usual’ and some technical solutions? With today’s emissions levels, that remaining CO 2 budget will be entirely gone within less than 8 and a half years.

There will not be any solutions or plans presented in line with these figures here today, because these numbers are too uncomfortable. And you are still not mature enough to tell it like it is.

You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you.

We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up. And change is coming, whether you like it or not.

Leonardo DiCaprio gave an impassioned climate change speech at the 2014 UN Climate Summit. Watch it now:

Here’s a transcript of Leonardo DiCaprio’s climate change speech in case you’re looking to quote any part of it.

Thank you, Mr Secretary General, your excellencies, ladies and gentleman, and distinguished guests. I’m honoured to be here today, I stand before you not as an expert but as a concerned citizen. One of the 400,000 people who marched in the streets of New York on Sunday, and the billions of others around the world who want to solve our climate crisis.

As an actor, I pretend for a living. I play fictitious characters often solving fictitious problems.

I believe humankind has looked at climate change in that same way. As if it were fiction, happening to someone else’s planet, as if pretending that climate change wasn’t real would somehow make it go away.

But I think we know better than that. Every week, we’re seeing new and undeniable climate events, evidence that accelerated climate change is here now .  We know that droughts are intensifying.  Our oceans are warming and acidifying, with methane plumes rising up from beneath the ocean floor. We are seeing extreme weather events, increased temperatures, and the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets melting at unprecedented rates, decades ahead of scientific projections.

None of this is rhetoric, and none of it is hysteria. It is fact. The scientific community knows it. Industry and governments know it. Even the United States military knows it. The chief of the US Navy’s Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Locklear, recently said that climate change is our single greatest security threat.

My friends, this body – perhaps more than any other gathering in human history – now faces that difficult task. You can make history or be vilified by it.

To be clear, this is not about just telling people to change their light bulbs or to buy a hybrid car. This disaster has grown BEYOND the choices that individuals make. This is now about our industries, and governments around the world taking decisive, large-scale action.

I am not a scientist, but I don’t need to be. Because the world’s scientific community has spoken, and they have given us our prognosis. If we do not act together, we will surely perish.

Now is our moment for action.

We need to put a price tag on carbon emissions and eliminate government subsidies for coal, gas, and oil companies. We need to end the free ride that industrial polluters have been given in the name of a free-market economy. They don’t deserve our tax dollars, they deserve our scrutiny. For the economy itself will die if our ecosystems collapse.

The good news is that renewable energy is not only achievable but good economic policy. New research shows that by 2050 clean, renewable energy could supply 100% of the world’s energy needs using existing technologies, and it would create millions of jobs.

This is not a partisan debate; it is a human one. Clean air and water, and a livable climate are inalienable human rights. And solving this crisis is not a question of politics. It is our moral obligation – if, admittedly, a daunting one.

We only get one planet. Humankind must become accountable on a massive scale for the wanton destruction of our collective home. Protecting our future on this planet depends on the conscious evolution of our species.

This is the most urgent of times, and the most urgent of messages.

Honoured delegates, leaders of the world, I pretend for a living. But you do not. The people made their voices heard on Sunday around the world and the momentum will not stop. And now it’s YOUR turn, the time to answer the greatest challenge of our existence on this planet is now.

I beg you to face it with courage. And honesty. Thank you.

The Philippines’ lead negotiator  Yeb Sano  addressed the opening session of the UN climate summit in Warsaw in November 2013. In this emotional and powerful climate change speech he called for urgent action to prevent a repeat of the devastating storm that hit parts of the Philippines:

Transcript of Yeb’s Climate Change Speech

Here’s a transcript of Yeb’s climate change speech:

Mr President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the resilient people of the Republic of the Philippines.

At the onset, allow me to fully associate my delegation with the statement made by the distinguished Ambassador of the Republic of Fiji, on behalf of G77 and China as well as the statement made by Nicaragua on behalf of the Like-Minded Developing Countries.

First and foremost, the people of the Philippines, and our delegation here for the United Nations Climate Change Convention’s 19 th  Conference of the Parties here in Warsaw, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your expression of sympathy to my country in the face of this national difficulty.

In the midst of this tragedy, the delegation of the Philippines is comforted by the warm hospitality of Poland, with your people offering us warm smiles everywhere we go. Hotel staff and people on the streets, volunteers and personnel within the National Stadium have warmly offered us kind words of sympathy. So, thank you Poland.

The arrangements you have made for this COP is also most excellent and we highly appreciate the tremendous effort you have put into the preparations for this important gathering.

We also thank all of you, friends and colleagues in this hall and from all corners of the world as you stand beside us in this difficult time.

I thank all countries and governments who have extended your solidarity and for offering assistance to the Philippines.

I thank the youth present here and the billions of young people around the world who stand steadfastly behind my delegation and who are watching us shape their future.

I thank civil society, both who are working on the ground as we race against time in the hardest-hit areas, and those who are here in Warsaw prodding us to have a sense of urgency and ambition.

We are deeply moved by this manifestation of human solidarity. This outpouring of support proves to us that as a human race, we can unite; that as a species, we care.

It was barely 11 months ago in Doha when my delegation appealed to the world… to open our eyes to the stark reality that we face… as then we confronted a catastrophic storm that resulted in the costliest disaster in Philippine history.

Less than a year hence, we cannot imagine that a disaster much bigger would come. With an apparent cruel twist of fate, my country is being tested by this hellstorm called Super Typhoon Haiyan, which has been described by experts as the strongest typhoon that has ever made landfall in the course of recorded human history.

It was so strong that if there was a Category 6, it would have fallen squarely in that box. Up to this hour, we remain uncertain as to the full extent of the devastation, as information trickles in an agonisingly slow manner because electricity lines and communication lines have been cut off and may take a while before these are restored.

The initial assessment shows that Haiyan left a wake of massive devastation that is unprecedented, unthinkable, and horrific, affecting 2/3 of the Philippines, with about half a million people now rendered homeless, and with scenes reminiscent of the aftermath of a tsunami, with a vast wasteland of mud and debris and dead bodies.

According to satellite estimates, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also estimated that Haiyan achieved a minimum pressure between around 860 mbar (hPa; 25.34 inHg) and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimated Haiyan to have attained one-minute sustained winds of 315 km/h (195 mph) and gusts up to 378 km/h (235 mph) making it the strongest typhoon in modern recorded history.

Despite the massive efforts that my country had exerted in preparing for the onslaught of this monster of a storm, it was just a force too powerful, and even as a nation familiar with storms, Super Typhoon Haiyan was nothing we have ever experienced before, or perhaps nothing that any country has every experienced before.

The picture in the aftermath is ever so slowly coming into clearer focus. The devastation is colossal. And as if this is not enough, another storm is brewing again in the warm waters of the western Pacific. I shudder at the thought of another typhoon hitting the same places where people have not yet even managed to begin standing up.

To anyone who continues to deny the reality that is climate change, I dare you to get off your ivory tower and away from the comfort of your armchair.

I dare you to go to the islands of the Pacific, the islands of the Caribbean and the islands of the Indian Ocean and see the impacts of rising sea levels; to the mountainous regions of the Himalayas and the Andes to see communities confronting glacial floods, to the Arctic where communities grapple with the fast dwindling polar ice caps, to the large deltas of the Mekong, the Ganges, the Amazon, and the Nile where lives and livelihoods are drowned, to the hills of Central America that confront similar monstrous hurricanes, to the vast savannahs of Africa where climate change has likewise become a matter of life and death as food and water becomes scarce.

Not to forget the massive hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern seaboard of North America. And if that is not enough, you may want to pay a visit to the Philippines right now.

The science has given us a picture that has become much more in focus. The IPCC report on climate change and extreme events underscored the risks associated with changes in the patterns as well as the frequency of extreme weather events.

Science tells us that simply, climate change will mean more intense tropical storms. As the Earth warms up, that would include the oceans. The energy that is stored in the waters off the Philippines will increase the intensity of typhoons and the trend we now see is that more destructive storms will be the new norm.

This will have profound implications on many of our communities, especially who struggle against the twin challenges of the development crisis and the climate change crisis. Typhoons such as Yolanda (Haiyan) and its impacts represent a sobering reminder to the international community that we cannot afford to procrastinate on climate action. Warsaw must deliver on enhancing ambition and should muster the political will to address climate change.

In Doha, we asked, “If not us then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?” (borrowed from Philippine student leader Ditto Sarmiento during Martial Law). It may have fell on deaf ears. But here in Warsaw, we may very well ask these same forthright questions. “If not us, then who? If not now, then when? If not here in Warsaw, where?”

What my country is going through as a result of this extreme climate event is madness. The climate crisis is madness.

We can stop this madness. Right here in Warsaw.

It is the 19 th  COP, but we might as well stop counting because my country refuses to accept that a COP30 or a COP40 will be needed to solve climate change.

And because it seems that despite the significant gains we have had since the UNFCCC was born, 20 years hence we continue to fail in fulfilling the ultimate objective of the Convention. 

Now, we find ourselves in a situation where we have to ask ourselves – can we ever attain the objective set out in Article 2 – which is to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system? By failing to meet the objective of the Convention, we may have ratified the doom of vulnerable countries.

And if we have failed to meet the objective of the Convention, we have to confront the issue of loss and damage.

Loss and damage from climate change is a reality today across the world. Developed country emissions reduction targets are dangerously low and must be raised immediately. But even if they were in line with the demand of reducing 40-50% below 1990 levels, we would still have locked-in climate change and would still need to address the issue of loss and damage.

We find ourselves at a critical juncture and the situation is such that even the most ambitious emissions reductions by developed countries, who should have been taking the lead in combatting climate change in the past two decades, will not be enough to avert the crisis.

It is now too late, too late to talk about the world being able to rely on Annex I countries to solve the climate crisis. We have entered a new era that demands global solidarity in order to fight climate change and ensure that the pursuit of sustainable human development remains at the fore of the global community’s efforts. This is why means of implementation for developing countries is ever more crucial.

It was the Secretary-general of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro, 1992, Maurice Strong who said that “History reminds us that what is not possible today, may be inevitable tomorrow.”

We cannot sit and stay helpless staring at this international climate stalemate. It is now time to take action. We need an emergency climate pathway.

I speak for my delegation. But more than that, I speak for the countless people who will no longer be able to speak for themselves after perishing from the storm. I also speak for those who have been orphaned by this tragedy. I also speak for the people now racing against time to save survivors and alleviate the suffering of the people affected by the disaster.

We can take drastic action now to ensure that we prevent a future where super typhoons are a way of life. Because we refuse, as a nation, to accept a future where super typhoons like Haiyan become a fact of life. We refuse to accept that running away from storms, evacuating our families, suffering the devastation and misery, having to count our dead, become a way of life. We simply refuse to.

We must stop calling events like these as natural disasters. It is not natural when people continue to struggle to eradicate poverty and pursue development and get battered by the onslaught of a monster storm now considered as the strongest storm ever to hit land. It is not natural when science already tells us that global warming will induce more intense storms. It is not natural when the human species has already profoundly changed the climate.

Disasters are never natural. They are the intersection of factors other than physical. They are the accumulation of the constant breach of economic, social, and environmental thresholds.

Most of the time disasters are a result of inequity and the poorest people of the world are at greatest risk because of their vulnerability and decades of maldevelopment, which I must assert is connected to the kind of pursuit of economic growth that dominates the world. The same kind of pursuit of so-called economic growth and unsustainable consumption that has altered the climate system.

Now, if you will allow me, to speak on a more personal note.

Super Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in my family’s hometown and the devastation is staggering. I struggle to find words even for the images that we see from the news coverage. I struggle to find words to describe how I feel about the losses and damages we have suffered from this cataclysm.

Up to this hour, I agonize while waiting for word as to the fate of my very own relatives. What gives me renewed strength and great relief was when my brother succeeded in communicating with us that he has survived the onslaught. In the last two days, he has been gathering bodies of the dead with his own two hands. He is hungry and weary as food supplies find it difficult to arrive in the hardest-hit areas.

We call on this COP to pursue work until the most meaningful outcome is in sight. Until concrete pledges have been made to ensure mobilisation of resources for the Green Climate Fund. Until the promise of the establishment of a loss and damage mechanism has been fulfilled. Until there is assurance on finance for adaptation. Until concrete pathways for reaching the committed 100 billion dollars have been made. Until we see real ambition on stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations. We must put the money where our mouths are.

This process under the UNFCCC has been called many names. It has been called a farce. It has been called an annual carbon-intensive gathering of useless frequent flyers. It has been called many names. But it has also been called “The Project To Save The Planet”. It has been called “Saving Tomorrow Today”. We can fix this. We can stop this madness. Right now. Right here, in the middle of this football field.

I call on you to lead us. And let Poland be forever known as the place we truly cared to stop this madness. Can humanity rise to the occasion? I still believe we can.

Finally, in April 2019, Greta spoke at the Houses of Parliament in the UK. Here she gave this powerful climate change speech to the UK’s political leaders:

Transcript of Greta’s Climate Change Speech

Here is the full transcript of Greta’s climate change speech:

My name is Greta Thunberg. I am 16 years old. I come from Sweden. And I speak on behalf of future generations.

I know many of you don’t want to listen to us – you say we are just children. But we’re only repeating the message of the united climate science.

Many of you appear concerned that we are wasting valuable lesson time, but I assure you we will go back to school the moment you start listening to science and give us a future. Is that really too much to ask?

In the year 2030, I will be 26 years old. My little sister Beata will be 23. Just like many of your own children or grandchildren. That is a great age, we have been told. When you have all of your life ahead of you. But I am not so sure it will be that great for us.

I was fortunate to be born in a time and place where everyone told us to dream big. I could become whatever I wanted to. I could live wherever I wanted to. People like me had everything we needed and more. Things our grandparents could not even dream of. We had everything we could ever wish for and yet now we may have nothing.

Now we probably don’t even have a future anymore.

Because that future was sold so that a small number of people could make unimaginable amounts of money. It was stolen from us every time you said that the sky was the limit and that you only live once.

You lied to us. You gave us false hope. You told us that the future was something to look forward to. And the saddest thing is that most children are not even aware of the fate that awaits us. We will not understand it until it’s too late. And yet we are the lucky ones. Those who will be affected the hardest are already suffering the consequences. But their voices are not heard.

Is my microphone on? Can you hear me?

Around the year 2030, 10 years 252 days and 10 hours away from now, we will be in a position where we set off an irreversible chain reaction beyond human control, that will most likely lead to the end of our civilisation as we know it. That is unless, in that time, permanent and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society have taken place, including a reduction of CO 2 emissions by at least 50%.

And please note that these calculations are depending on inventions that have not yet been invented at scale, inventions that are supposed to clear the atmosphere of astronomical amounts of carbon dioxide.

Furthermore, these calculations do not include unforeseen tipping points and feedback loops like the extremely powerful methane gas escaping from rapidly thawing arctic permafrost.

Nor do these scientific calculations include already locked-in warming hidden by toxic air pollution. Nor the aspect of equity – or climate justice – clearly stated throughout the Paris Agreement, which is absolutely necessary to make it work on a global scale.

We must also bear in mind that these are just calculations. Estimations. That means that these “points of no return” may occur a bit sooner or later than 2030. No one can know for sure. We can, however, be certain that they will occur approximately in these timeframes because these calculations are not opinions or wild guesses.

These projections are backed up by scientific facts, concluded by all nations through the IPCC. Nearly every single major national scientific body around the world unreservedly supports the work and findings of the IPCC.

Did you hear what I just said? Is my English OK? Is the microphone on? Because I’m beginning to wonder.

During the last six months, I have travelled around Europe for hundreds of hours in trains, electric cars, and buses, repeating these life-changing words over and over again. But no one seems to be talking about it, and nothing has changed. In fact, the emissions are still rising.

When I have been travelling around to speak in different countries, I am always offered help to write about the specific climate policies in specific countries. But that is not really necessary. Because the basic problem is the same everywhere. And the basic problem is that basically nothing is being done to halt – or even slow – climate and ecological breakdown, despite all the beautiful words and promises.

The UK is, however, very special. Not only for its mind-blowing historical carbon debt but also for its current, very creative, carbon accounting.

Since 1990 the UK has achieved a 37% reduction of its territorial CO 2 emissions, according to the Global Carbon Project. And that does sound very impressive. But these numbers do not include emissions from aviation, shipping, and those associated with imports and exports. If these numbers are included the reduction is around 10% since 1990 – or an average of 0.4% a year, according to Tyndall Manchester. And the main reason for this reduction is not a consequence of climate policies, but rather a 2001 EU directive on air quality that essentially forced the UK to close down its very old and extremely dirty coal power plants and replace them with less dirty gas power stations. And switching from one disastrous energy source to a slightly less disastrous one will of course result in a lowering of emissions.

But perhaps the most dangerous misconception about the climate crisis is that we have to “lower” our emissions. Because that is far from enough.

Our emissions have to stop if we are to stay below 1.5-2 ° C of warming. The “lowering of emissions” is of course necessary but it is only the beginning of a fast process that must lead to a stop within a couple of decades or less. And by “stop” I mean net-zero – and then quickly on to negative figures. That rules out most of today’s politics.

The fact that we are speaking of “lowering” instead of “stopping” emissions is perhaps the greatest force behind the continuing business as usual. The UK’s active current support of new exploitation of fossil fuels – for example, the UK shale gas fracking industry, the expansion of its North Sea oil and gas fields, the expansion of airports as well as the planning permission for a brand new coal mine – is beyond absurd.

This ongoing irresponsible behaviour will no doubt be remembered in history as one of the greatest failures of humankind.

People always tell me and the other millions of school strikers that we should be proud of ourselves for what we have accomplished. But the only thing that we need to look at is the emission curve. And I’m sorry, but it’s still rising. That curve is the only thing we should look at.

Every time we make a decision we should ask ourselves; how will this decision affect that curve? We should no longer measure our wealth and success in the graph that shows economic growth, but in the curve that shows the emissions of greenhouse gases. We should no longer only ask: “Have we got enough money to go through with this?” but also: “Have we got enough of the carbon budget to spare to go through with this?” That should and must become the centre of our new currency.

Many people say that we don’t have any solutions to the climate crisis. And they are right. Because how could we? How do you “solve” the greatest crisis that humanity has ever faced? How do you “solve” a war? How do you “solve” going to the moon for the first time? How do you “solve” inventing new inventions?

The climate crisis is both the easiest and the hardest issue we have ever faced. The easiest because we know what we must do. We must stop the emissions of greenhouse gases. The hardest because our current economics are still totally dependent on burning fossil fuels, and thereby destroying ecosystems in order to create everlasting economic growth.

“So, exactly how do we solve that?” you ask us – the schoolchildren striking for the climate.

And we say: “No one knows for sure. But we have to stop burning fossil fuels and restore nature and many other things that we may not have quite figured out yet.”

Then you say: “That’s not an answer!”

So we say: “We have to start treating the crisis like a crisis – and act even if we don’t have all the solutions.”

“That’s still not an answer,” you say.

Then we start talking about circular economy and rewilding nature and the need for a just transition. Then you don’t understand what we are talking about.

We say that all those solutions needed are not known to anyone and therefore we must unite behind the science and find them together along the way. But you do not listen to that. Because those answers are for solving a crisis that most of you don’t even fully understand. Or don’t want to understand.

You don’t listen to the science because you are only interested in solutions that will enable you to carry on like before. Like now. And those answers don’t exist anymore. Because you did not act in time.

Avoiding climate breakdown will require cathedral thinking. We must lay the foundation while we may not know exactly how to build the ceiling.

Sometimes we just simply have to find a way. The moment we decide to fulfil something, we can do anything. And I’m sure that the moment we start behaving as if we were in an emergency, we can avoid climate and ecological catastrophe. Humans are very adaptable: we can still fix this. But the opportunity to do so will not last for long. We must start today. We have no more excuses.

We children are not sacrificing our education and our childhood for you to tell us what you consider is politically possible in the society that you have created. We have not taken to the streets for you to take selfies with us, and tell us that you really admire what we do.

We children are doing this to wake the adults up. We children are doing this for you to put your differences aside and start acting as you would in a crisis. We children are doing this because we want our hopes and dreams back.

I hope my microphone was on. I hope you could all hear me.

Hopefully, these climate change speeches will encourage you to take action in your local community. If you need more inspiration then head to my post on the best TED Talks on climate change , my guide to the best YouTube videos on climate change , and the sustainability poems to inspire you.

Found this post useful? Please consider buying me a virtual coffee to help support the site’s running costs.

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Wendy Graham is a sustainability expert and the founder of Moral Fibres, where's she's written hundreds of articles on since starting the site in 2013. She's dedicated to bringing you sustainability advice you can trust.

Wendy holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Geography and an MSc (with Distinction) in Environmental Sustainability - specialising in environmental education.

As well as this, Wendy brings 17 years of professional experience working in the sustainability sector to the blog.

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/read-climate-activist-greta-thunbergs-speech-to-the-un

Read climate activist Greta Thunberg’s speech to the UN

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg chastised world leaders Monday for failing younger generations by not taking sufficient steps to stop climate change.

“You have stolen my childhood and my dreams with your empty words,” Thunberg said at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York.

Thunberg traveled to the U.S. by sailboat last month so she could appear at the summit. She and other youth activists led international climate strikes on Friday in an attempt to garner awareness ahead of the UN’s meeting of political and business leaders.

Read Greta Thunberg’s speech below:

This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you?

You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words, and yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering, people are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth. How dare you?

For more than 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and come here saying that you’re doing enough when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight? You say you hear us and that you understand the urgency, but no matter how sad and angry I am, I do not want to believe that. Because if you really understood the situation and still kept on failing to act, then you would be evil and that I refuse to believe.

The popular idea of cutting our emissions in half in ten years only gives us a 50 percent chance of staying below 1.5 degrees and the risk of setting up irreversible chain reactions beyond human control. Fifty percent may be acceptable to you, but those numbers do not include tipping points most feedback loops, additional warming hidden by toxic air pollution, or the aspects of equity and climate justice.

They also rely on my generation sucking hundreds of billions of tons of your CO2 out of the air with technologies that barely exist. So a 50 percent risk is simply not acceptable to us. We who have to live with the consequences. To have a 67 percent chance of staying below the 1.5 degree of temperature rise, the best odds given by the IPCC, the world had 420 gigatons of CO2 left to emit back on January 1, 2018.

Today that figure is already down to less than 350 gigatons. How dare you pretend that this can be solved with just business as usual and some technical solutions? With today’s emissions levels, that remaining CO2 that entire budget will be gone is less than 8 and a half years. There will not be any solutions or plans presented in line with these figures here today because these numbers are too uncomfortable and you are still not mature enough to tell it like it is.

You are failing us, but young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say we will never forgive you. We will not let you get away with this, right here, right now, is where we draw the line. The world is waking up, and change is coming whether you like it or not.

Gretchen Frazee is a Senior Coordinating Broadcast Producer for the PBS NewsHour.

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• Speech Writing /

Speech on Climate Change For Students

• Updated on  
• Dec 18, 2023

How do you feel when covered completely overhead? It must be suffocating, and in the meanwhile, due to the scale down of oxygen, your brain, after some time, will stop responding due to a deep state of unconsciousness. 

The above situation was just an example to describe the trapping of carbon dioxide. Imagine what will happen if our environment gets trapped with harmful gasses and inhaling oxygen comes with no options. All such adverse effects of climate change can be hazardous for all living beings.

As a burning topic of the current scenario, we will discuss this burning climate change speech for students.

Also Read: Essay on Climate Change

Long Speech On Climate Change

Greetings to all the teachers and students gathered here. Today, I stand before you to address a matter of urgency and global significance—Climate Change. In my climate change speech, I have tried to cover relevant facts, figures, adverse effects and, importantly, how to save our environment from climate change. 

Also Read: Essay on Global Warming 

As per data studies by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), there is a continuous increase in global temperature with a comprehensive rise. Hazardous situations of this increase in temperature will follow up in the coming years, too, which is again an unfortunate signal.

Earth signals, which are constant by nature and cannot be reverted, are increasing. 

The rise in drought, floods, wildfires, and utmost rainfall continuously reflects the signals that are not sound indicators. Again, if we talk about numbers and statistics, the sixth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warned humans about heat-trapping figures of nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) from 1850 to 1900. 

Moreover, the body has warned about the expected reach or exceed 1.5 degrees C (about 3 degrees F) within the next few decades.

Now here comes a question, what has led to such an adverse situation? 

Natural reasons such as pollen remains, glacier lengths, ocean sediments and more are some of the naturally occurring processes that contribute a little portion to climate change. But the major contributor to this worst condition, after an industrial revolution, is only created by human activities. 

Regular cutting of forests or deforestation, burning of fossil fuels for releasing energy, regular use of fertilizers in agriculture, and livestock farming are some of the major reasons for climate change in the environment. 

Despite all the adverse effects of global climatic change, many organizations, both private and government, are working for the welfare of climate change. 

However, since humans are responsible for this disaster, we should try our best to curb it in the safest and most secure possible ways; likewise, using less private transportation, switching to e-bikes or zero-emissions vehicles following the practice of reducing, reusing, repair and recycle and practicing more use of plastic free products. 

All such efforts will help curb the ill effects of the climate of the earth and environment. 

Also Read: Environmental Conservation

Also Read: How to Prepare for UPSC in 6 Months?

Deforestation, changes in naturally occurring carbon dioxide concentrations, livestock farming, and burning fossil fuels are major causes of climate change.

Less tree cutting, less dependency on fossil fuels, use of different forms of natural energy, and use of electric vehicles can solve the problem of global climatic change.

Paris Agreement is an agreement between 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) to reduce and mitigate Greenhouse Gas emissions.

Rise in temperature, drought, soil erosion, landslides, and floods are some of the adverse effects of climatic changes in the environment. 

The Montreal Protocol, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement are important international agreements on climate change.

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For more information on such interesting speech topics for your school, visit our speech writing page and follow Leverage Edu.

Deepika Joshi

Deepika Joshi is an experienced content writer with educational and informative content expertise. She has hands-on experience in Education, Study Abroad and EdTech SaaS. Her strengths lie in conducting thorough research and analysis to provide accurate and up-to-date information to readers. She enjoys staying updated on new skills and knowledge, particularly in the education domain. In her free time, she loves to read articles, and blogs related to her field to expand her expertise further. In her personal life, she loves creative writing and aspires to connect with innovative people who have fresh ideas to offer.

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Climate Action: It’s time to make peace with nature, UN chief urges

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The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has described the fight against the climate crisis as the top priority for the 21st Century, in a passionate, uncompromising speech delivered on Wednesday at Columbia University in New York.

The landmark address marks the beginning of a month of UN-led climate action, which includes the release of major reports on the global climate and fossil fuel production, culminating in a climate summit on 12 December, the fifth anniversary of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

Nature always strikes back

Mr. Guterres began with a litany of the many ways in which nature is reacting, with “growing force and fury”, to humanity’s mishandling of the environment, which has seen a collapse in biodiversity, spreading deserts, and oceans reaching record temperatures.

The link between COVID-19 and man-made climate change was also made plain by the UN chief, who noted that the continued encroachment of people and livestock into animal habitats, risks exposing us to more deadly diseases.

And, whilst the economic slowdown resulting from the pandemic has temporarily slowed emissions of harmful greenhouse gases, levels of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane are still rising, with the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere at a record high. Despite this worrying trend, fossil fuel production – responsible for a significant proportion of greenhouse gases – is predicted to continue on an upward path.

‘Time to flick the green switch’

The appropriate global response, said the Secretary-General, is a transformation of the world economy, flicking the “green switch” and building a sustainable system driven by renewable energy, green jobs and a resilient future.

One way to achieve this vision, is by achieving net zero emissions (read our feature story on net zero for a full explanation, and why it is so important). There are encouraging signs on this front, with several developed countries, including the UK, Japan and China, committing to the goal over the next few decades.

Mr. Guterres called on all countries, cities and businesses to target 2050 as the date by which they achieve carbon neutrality – to at least halt national increases in emissions - and for all individuals to do their part.

With the cost of renewable energy continuing to fall, this transition makes economic sense, and will lead to a net creation of 18 million jobs over the next 10 years. Nevertheless, the UN chief pointed out, the G20, the world’s largest economies, are planning to spend 50 per cent more on sectors linked to fossil fuel production and consumption, than on low-carbon energy.

Put a price on carbon

For years, many climate experts and activists have called for the cost of carbon-based pollution to be factored into the price of fossil fuels, a step that Mr. Guterres said would provide certainty and confidence for the private and financial sectors.

Companies, he declared, need to adjust their business models, ensuring that finance is directed to the green economy, and pension funds, which manage some $32 trillion in assets, need to step and invest in carbon-free portfolios.

Far more money, continued the Secretary-General, needs to be invested in adapting to the changing climate, which is hindering the UN’s work on disaster risk reduction. The international community, he said, has “both a moral imperative and a clear economic case, for supporting developing countries to adapt and build resilience to current and future climate impacts”.

Everything is interlinked

The COVID-19 pandemic put paid to many plans, including the UN’s ambitious plan to make 2020 the “super year” for buttressing the natural world. That ambition has now been shifted to 2021, and will involve a number of major climate-related international commitments.

These include the development of a plan to halt the biodiversity crisis; an Oceans Conference to protect marine environments; a global sustainable transport conference; and the first Food Systems Summit, aimed at transforming global food production and consumption.

Mr. Guterres ended his speech on a note of hope, amid the prospect of a new, more sustainable world in which mindsets are shifting, to take into account the importance of reducing each individual’s carbon footprint.

Far from looking to return to “normal”, a world of inequality, injustice and “heedless dominion over the Earth”, the next step, said the Secretary-General, should be towards a safer, more sustainable and equitable path, and for mankind to rethink our relationship with the natural world – and with each other.

You can read the full speech here .

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General December 2, 2020

• climate change
• climate action

Read Greta Thunberg's full speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit

Teen environmental activist Greta Thunberg spoke at the United Nations on Monday about climate change, accusing world leaders of inaction and half-measures.

Here are her full remarks:

My message is that we'll be watching you.

This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet, you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you!

You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words and yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!

For more than 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and come here saying that you're doing enough when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight.

You say you hear us and that you understand the urgency, but no matter how sad and angry I am, I do not want to believe that. Because if you really understood the situation and still kept on failing to act then you would be evil and that I refuse to believe.

The popular idea of cutting our emissions in half in 10 years only gives us a 50 percent chance of staying below 1.5 degrees and the risk of setting off irreversible chain reactions beyond human control.

Fifty percent may be acceptable to you, but those numbers do not include tipping points, most feedback loops, additional warming hidden by toxic air pollution or the aspects of equity and climate justice.

They also rely on my generation sucking hundreds of billions of tons of your CO2 out of the air with technologies that barely exist.

So a 50 percent risk is simply not acceptable to us, we who have to live with the consequences.

How dare you pretend that this can be solved with just business as usual and some technical solutions? With today's emissions levels, that remaining CO2 budget will be entirely gone within less than eight and a half years.

There will not be any solutions or plans presented in line with these figures here today, because these numbers are too uncomfortable and you are still not mature enough to tell it like it is.

You are failing us, but the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you and if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you.

We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up and change is coming, whether you like it or not.

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Time to get serious about climate change. On a warming planet, no one is safe.

Statement prepared for delivery at the press conference to launch the Summary for Policymakers of the Working Group I contribution to the 6 th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change titled “ Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis ."

Abdalah Mokssit, Secretary, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change   

Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organisation  

Dr. Hoesung Lee, Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  

Thank you to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) , the authors and everyone involved in this latest climate alarm. Your work is particularly appreciated given the disruption COVID-19 has caused. 

You have been telling us for over three decades of the dangers of allowing the planet to warm. The world listened, but it didn’t hear. The world listened, but it didn’t act strongly enough. As a result, climate change is a problem that is here, now. Nobody is safe. And it is getting worse faster. 

We must treat climate change as an immediate threat, just as we must treat the connected crises of nature and biodiversity loss , and pollution and waste , as immediate threats. As recently noted by the IPCC and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) , climate change exacerbates already grave risks to biodiversity and natural and managed habitats. Ecosystem degradation damages nature’s ability to reduce the force of climate change. And as the IPCC Working Group I report reminds us, reducing greenhouse gases will not only slow climate change, but improve air quality. It is all connected. 

It’s time to get serious because every tonne of CO2 emission adds to global warming. As the UNFCCC noted last week, just 110 of 191 Parties to the Convention have submitted new or updated NDCs ahead the next climate COP. Governments need to make their net-zero plans an integral part of their Paris commitments. They must finance and support developing countries to adapt to climate change, as promised in the Paris Agreement . They must decarbonize faster. Restore natural systems that draw down carbon. Cut out methane and other greenhouse gases faster. Get behind the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to cut the climate impact of the cooling industry. And every business, every investor, every citizen needs to play their part. 

We can’t undo the mistakes of the past. But this generation of political and business leaders, this generation of conscious citizens, can make things right. This generation can make the systemic changes that will stop the planet warming, help everyone adapt to the new conditions and create a world of peace, prosperity and equity. 

Climate change is here, now. But we are also here, now. And if we don’t act, who will? 

Inger Andersen

Executive Director

• Clean fuels

Further Resources

• Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis, the Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report
• COVID-19 updates from the United Nations Environment Programme
• Adaptation Gap Report 2020
• Emissions Gap Report 2020

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Remarks by President   Biden at the Virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Opening   Session

8:07 A.M. EDT   THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Madam Vice President.   Good morning to all of our colleagues around the world — the world leaders who are taking part in this summit.  I thank you.  You know, your leadership on this issue is a statement to the people of your nation and to the people of every nation, especially our young people, that we’re ready to meet this moment.  And meeting this moment is about more than preserving our planet; it’s also about providing a better future for all of us.    That’s why, when people talk about climate, I think jobs.  Within our climate response lies an extraordinary engine of job creation and economic opportunity ready to be fired up.  That’s why I’ve proposed a huge investment in American infrastructure and American innovation to tap the economic opportunity that climate change presents our workers and our communities, especially those too often that have — left out and left behind.    I’d like to buil- — I want to build a — a critical infrastructure to produce and deploy clean technology — both those we can harness today and those that we’ll invent tomorrow.   I talked to the experts, and I see the potential for a more prosperous and equitable future.  The signs are unmistakable.  The science is undeniable.  But the cost of inaction is — keeps mounting.    The United States isn’t waiting.  We are resolving to take action — not only the — our federal government, but our cities and our states all across our country; small businesses, large businesses, large corporations; American workers in every field.    I see an opportunity to create millions of good-paying, middle-class, union jobs.    I see line workers laying thousands of miles of transmission lines for a clean, modern, resilient grid.    I see workers capping hundreds of thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells that need to be cleaned up, and abandoned coalmines that need to be reclaimed, putting a stop to the methane leaks and protecting the health of our communities.    I see autoworkers building the next generation of electric vehicles, and electricians installing nationwide for 500,000 charging stations along our highways.    I see engine- — the engineers and the construction workers building new carbon capture and green hydrogen plants to forge cleaner steel and cement and produce clean power.    I see farmers deploying cutting-edge tools to make soil of our — of our Heartland the next frontier in carbon innovation.    By maintaining those investments and putting these people to work, the United States sets out on the road to cut greenhouse gases in half — in half by the end of this decade.  That’s where we’re headed as a nation, and that’s what we can do if we take action to build an economy that’s not only more prosperous, but healthier, fairer, and cleaner for the entire planet.    You know, these steps will set America on a path of net-zero emissions economy by no later than 2050.  But the truth is, America represents less than 15 percent of the world’s emissions.  No nation can solve this crisis on our own, as I know you all fully understand.  All of us, all of us — and particularly those of us who represent the world’s largest economies — we have to step up.    You know, those that do take action and make bold investments in their people and clean energy future will win the good jobs of tomorrow, and make their economies more resilient and more competitive.    So let’s run that race; win more — win more sustainable future than we have now; overcome the existential crisis of our times.  We know just how critically important that is because scientists tell us that this is the decisive decade.  This is the decade we must make decisions that will avoid the worst consequences of a climate crisis.  We must try to keep the Earth’s temperature and — to an increase of — to 1.5 degrees Celsius.    You know, the world beyond 1.5 degrees means more frequent and intense fires, floods, droughts, heat waves, and hurricanes tearing through communities, ripping away lives and livelihoods, increasingly dire impacts to our public health.   It’s undeniable and undevi- — you know, the idea of accelerating and the reality that will come if we don’t move.  We can’t resign ourselves to that future.  We have to take action, all of us.    And this summit is our first step on the road we’ll travel together — God willing, all of us — to and through Glasgow this November and the U.N. Climate Conference — the Climate Change Conf- — Conference, you know, to set our world on a path to a secure, prosperous, and sustainable future.  The health of communities throughout the world depends on it.  The wellbeing of our workers depends on it.  The strength of our economies depends on it.    The countries that take decisive action now to create the industries of the future will be the ones that reap the economic benefits of the clean energy boom that’s coming.   You know, we’re here at this summit to discuss how each of us, each country, can set higher climate ambitions that will in turn create good-paying jobs, advance innovative technologies, and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts.   We have to move.  We have to move quickly to meet these challenges.  The steps our countries take between now and Glasgow will set the world up for success to protect livelihoods around the world and keep global warming at a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius.  We must get on the path now in order to do that.    If we do, we’ll breathe easier, literally and figuratively; we’ll create good jobs here at home for millions of Americans; and lay a strong foundation for growth for the future.  And — and that — that can be your goal as well.  This is a moral imperative, an economic imperative, a moment of peril but also a moment of extraordinary possibilities.    Time is short, but I believe we can do this.  And I believe that we will do this.    Thank you for being part of the summit.  Thank you for the communities that you — and the commitments you have made, the communities you’re from.  God bless you all.    And I look forward to progress that we can make together today and beyond.  We really have no choice.  We have to get this done.   8:14 A.M. EDT

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Un headquarters, 27 july 2023, secretary-general's opening remarks at press conference on climate, antónio guterres.

The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived. Leaders must lead. No more hesitancy. No more excuses. No more waiting for others to move first. There is simply no more time for that. It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the very worst of climate change. But only with dramatic, immediate climate action. 

A very good morning.   Humanity is in the hotseat.       Today, the World Meteorological Organization and the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service are releasing official data that confirms that July 2023 is set to be the hottest month ever recorded in human history. 

We don’t have to wait for the end of the month to know this.  Short of a mini-Ice Age over the next days, July 2023 will shatter records across the board.

According to the data released today, July has already seen the hottest three-week period ever recorded; the three hottest days on record; and the highest-ever ocean temperatures for this time of year.    The consequences are clear and they are tragic: children swept away by monsoon rains; families running from the flames; workers collapsing in scorching heat.   For vast parts of North America, Asia, Africa and Europe – it is a cruel summer.   For the entire planet, it is a disaster. 

And for scientists, it is unequivocal – humans are to blame. 

All this is entirely consistent with predictions and repeated warnings.

The only surprise is the speed of the change.

Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning.

The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived. 

The air is unbreathable.  The heat is unbearable.  And the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable.

Leaders must lead.    No more hesitancy. No more excuses. No more waiting for others to move first.   There is simply no more time for that.   It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the very worst of climate change.   But only with dramatic, immediate climate action.   We have seen some progress.  A robust rollout of renewables.  Some positive steps from sectors such as shipping.    But none of this is going far enough or fast enough.   Accelerating temperatures demand accelerated action.    We have several critical opportunities ahead.    The Africa Climate Summit.  The G20 Summit.  The UN Climate Ambition Summit.  COP28.   But leaders – and particularly G20 countries responsible for 80% of global emissions – must step up for climate action and climate justice.   What does that mean in practice?   First, emissions.   We need ambitious new national emissions reduction targets from G20 members.   And we need all countries to take action in line with my Climate Solidarity Pact and Acceleration Agenda:   Hitting fast forward so that developed countries commit to reach net zero emissions as close as possible to 2040, and emerging economies as close as possible to 2050, with support from developed countries to do so.    And all actors must come together to accelerate a just and equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewables -- as we stop oil and gas expansion, and funding and licensing for new coal, oil and gas.   Credible plans must also be presented to exit coal by 2030 for OECD countries and 2040 for the rest of the world.    Ambitious renewable energy goals must be in line with the 1.5 degree limit.   And we must reach net zero electricity by 2035 in developed countries and 2040 elsewhere, as we work to bring affordable electricity to everyone on earth.   We also need action from leaders beyond governments.   I urge companies as well as cities, regions, and financial institutions to come to the Climate Ambition Summit with credible transition plans that are fully aligned with the United Nations’ net zero standard, presented by our High-Level Expert Group.    Financial institutions must end their fossil fuel lending, underwriting and investments and shift to renewables instead.    And fossil fuel companies must chart their move towards clean energy, with detailed transition plans across the entire value chain:   No more greenwashing.  No more deception.  And no more abusive distortion of anti-trust laws to sabotage net zero alliances.   Second, adaptation.   Extreme weather is becoming the new normal.    All countries must respond and protect their people from the searing heat, fatal floods, storms, droughts, and raging fires that result.   Those countries on the frontlines -- who have done the least to cause the crisis and have the least resources to deal with it -- must have the support they need to do so.    It is time for a global surge in adaptation investment to save millions of lives from climate [carnage.]   That requires unprecedented coordination around the priorities and plans of vulnerable developing countries.   Developed countries must present a clear and credible roadmap to double adaptation finance by 2025 as a first step towards devoting at least half of all climate finance to adaptation.   Every person on earth must be covered by an early warning system by 2027 – by implementing the Action Plan we launched last year.   And countries should consider a set of global goals to mobilize international action and support on adaptation.   That leads to the third area for accelerated action – finance.   Promises made on international climate finance must be promises kept.   Developed countries must honour their commitments to provide $100 billion a year to developing countries for climate support and fully replenish the Green Climate Fund.   I am concerned that only two G7 countries – Canada and Germany – have made until now replenishment pledges.   Countries must also operationalize the loss and damage fund at COP28 this year. No more delays; no more excuses.   More broadly, many banks, investors and other financial actors continue to reward polluters and incentivize wrecking the planet.   We need a course correction in the global financial system so that it supports accelerated climate action.    That includes putting a price on carbon and pushing the multilateral development banks to overhaul their business models and approaches to risk.   We need the multilateral development banks leveraging their funds to mobilize much more private finance at reasonable cost to developing countries -- and scaling up their funding to renewables, adaptation and loss and damage.   In all these areas, we need governments, civil society, business and others working in partnership to deliver.   I look forward to welcoming first-movers and doers on the Acceleration Agenda to New York for the Climate Ambition Summit in September.    And to hearing how leaders will respond to the facts before us. This is the price of entry.   The evidence is everywhere: humanity has unleashed destruction.   This must not inspire despair, but action.   We can still stop the worst.   But to do so we must turn a year of burning heat into a year of burning ambition.   And accelerate climate action – now.   Enfin, Permettez-moi de dire quelques mots sur la situation profondément préoccupante au Niger. Allow me to say a few words about the deeply worrying situation in Niger.     Soyons clairs : Let me be clear:     Les Nations unies condamnent fermement cette attaque contre le gouvernement démocratiquement élu – et soutiennent les efforts de la CEDEAO et de l'Union africaine pour restaurer la démocratie. The United Nations strongly condemns the assault against the democratically-elected government and supports the efforts of ECOWAS and the African Union to restore democracy.   Hier, j'ai parlé au président Bazoum pour lui exprimer toute notre solidarité. Yesterday I spoke to President Bazoum to express our full solidarity,     Aujourd'hui, je souhaite m'adresser directement à ceux qui le retiennent : Now I want to speak directly to those detaining him:     Libérez Président Bazoum – immédiatement et sans condition. Release President Bazoum immediately and unconditionally.   Cessez d'entraver la gouvernance démocratique de votre pays, et respectez l’État de droit. Stop obstructing the democratic governance of the country and respect the rule of law.   Nous voyons une tendance inquiétante dans la région du Sahel.  Les changements anticonstitutionnels et successifs de gouvernement ont des effets terribles sur le développement et la vie des populations civiles. We are seeing a disturbing trend in the region.  Successive unconstitutional changes of government are having terrible effects on the development and lives of civilian populations.   C’est particulièrement criant dans les pays déjà touchés par les conflits, l'extrémisme violent, le terrorisme et les effets dévastateurs du changement climatique. This is particularly glaring in countries already affected by conflict, violent extremism and terrorism, as well as the devastating effects of climate change.            Les Nations unies sont solidaires du gouvernement démocratiquement élu et du peuple nigérien. The United Nations stands in solidarity with the democratically elected Government and the people of Niger. 

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To Reach Climate Goals Humanity Must Cooperate or Perish, Secretary-General Warns, Calling for Solidarity Pact among All Nations, at Implementation Summit Opening

Following are UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ remarks at the high-level opening of the Twenty-Seventh Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Climate Implementation Summit, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, today:

In just days, our planet’s population will cross a new threshold.  The 8 billionth member of our human family will be born.  This milestone puts into perspective what this climate conference is all about.   How will we answer when “Baby 8 Billion” is old enough to ask:  What did you do for our world — and for our planet — when you had the chance?  This United Nations Climate Conference is a reminder that the answer is in our hands.

And the clock is ticking.  We are in the fight of our lives.  And we are losing.  Greenhouse gas emissions keep growing.  Global temperatures keep rising.  And our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible.  We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator.

The war in Ukraine, other conflicts, have caused so much bloodshed and violence and have had dramatic impacts all over the world.  But we cannot accept that our attention is not focused on climate change.  We must of course work together to support peace efforts and end the tremendous suffering.

But climate change is on a different timeline, and a different scale.  It is the defining issue of our age.  It is the central challenge of our century.  It is unacceptable, outrageous and self-defeating to put it on the back burner.

Indeed, many of today’s conflicts are linked with growing climate chaos.  The war in Ukraine has exposed the profound risks of our fossil fuel addiction.  Today’s crises cannot be an excuse for backsliding or greenwashing.  If anything, they are a reason for greater urgency, stronger action and effective accountability.

Human activity is the cause of the climate problem.  So human action must be the solution.  Action to re-establish ambition.  And action to rebuild trust — especially between North and South.  The science is clear:  any hope of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees means achieving global net zero emissions by 2050.  But that 1.5-degree Celsius goal is on life support — and the machines are rattling.  We are getting dangerously close to the point of no return.

And to avoid that dire fate, all Group of Twenty (G20) countries must accelerate their transition now — in this decade.  Developed countries must take the lead.  But emerging economies are also critical to bending the global emissions curve.

Last year in Glasgow, I called for coalitions of support for high-emitting emerging economies to accelerate the transition from coal towards renewables.  We are making progress with the Just Energy Transition Partnerships — but much more is needed.

That is why at the beginning of COP27, I am calling for a historic pact between developed and emerging economies — a climate solidarity pact.  A pact in which all countries make an extra effort to reduce emissions this decade in line with the 1.5-degree goal.  A pact in which wealthier countries and international financial institutions provide financial and technical assistance to help emerging economies speed their own renewable energy transition.  A pact to end dependence on fossil fuels and the building of new coal plants — phasing out coal in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries by 2030 and everywhere else by 2040.  A pact that will provide universal, affordable, sustainable energy for all.  A pact in which developed and emerging economies unite around a common strategy and combine capacities and resources for the benefit of humankind.

The two largest economies — the United States and China — have a particular responsibility to join efforts to make this pact a reality.  This is our only hope of meeting our climate goals.  Humanity has a choice:  cooperate or perish.  It is either a climate solidarity pact — or a collective suicide pact.

We also desperately need progress on adaptation — to build resilience to the climate disruption to come.  Today, some three-and-a-half billion people live in countries highly vulnerable to climate impacts.

In Glasgow, developed countries promised to double adaptation support to $40 billion a year by 2025.  We need a road map on how this will be delivered.  And we must recognize that this is only a first step.  Adaptation needs are set to grow to more than $300 billion a year by 2030.

Half of all climate finance must flow to adaptation.  International financial institutions and multilateral development banks must change their business model and do their part to scale up adaptation finance and better mobilize private finance to massively invest in climate action.  Countries and communities must also be able to access it — with finance flowing to identified priorities through efforts like the Adaptation Pipeline Accelerator.

At the same time, we must acknowledge a harsh truth:  there is no adapting to a growing number of catastrophic events causing enormous suffering around the world.  The deadly impacts of climate change are here and now.

Loss and damage can no longer be swept under the rug.  It is a moral imperative.  It is a fundamental question of international solidarity — and climate justice.  Those who contributed least to the climate crisis are reaping the whirlwind sown by others.  Many are blindsided by impacts for which they had no warning or means of preparation.

This is why I am calling for universal early warning systems coverage within five years.  And it is why I am asking that all Governments tax the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies.  Let’s redirect that money to people struggling with rising food and energy prices and to countries suffering loss and damage caused by the climate crisis.

On addressing loss and damage, this COP must agree on a clear, time-bound road map reflective of the scale and urgency of the challenge.  This road map must deliver effective institutional arrangements for financing.  Getting concrete results on loss and damage is a litmus test of the commitment of the Governments to the success of COP27.

The good news is that we know what to do and we have the financial and technological tools to get the job done.  It is time for nations to come together for implementation.  It is time for international solidarity across the board.

Solidarity that respects all human rights and guarantees a safe space for environmental defenders and all actors in society to contribute to our climate response.  Let’s not forget that the war on nature is in itself a massive violation of human rights.

We need all hands on deck for faster, bolder climate action.  A window of opportunity remains open, but only a narrow shaft of light remains.  The global climate fight will be won or lost in this crucial decade — on our watch.  One thing is certain:  those that give up are sure to lose.  So, let’s fight together — and let’s win.  For the 8 billion members of our human family — and for generations to come.

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Thailand’s slumping economy is new leader Paetongtarn’s focus in her first parliamentary speech

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra reads the policy statement at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Paetongtarn appeared Parliament for the first time to lay out how her government envisions to improve the country. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, talks to Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra before making the policy statement at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Paetongtarn appeared Parliament for the first time to lay out how her government envisions to improve the country. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra greets to lawmaker before making the policy statement at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Paetongtarn appeared Parliament for the first time to lay out how her government envisions to improve the country (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrives before making the policy statement at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra makes the policy statement at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra makes the policy statement at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Leader of People’s Party, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut asks a question after Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra makes the policy statement at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

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BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra vowed Thursday in her inaugural speech to Parliament to continue many of her predecessor’s plans to solve the country’s economic woes.

Paetongtarn, the leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party and daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra , took office last month after a court ousted Srettha Thavisin from his post over an accusation that he had violated an ethics law by appointing a Cabinet member who had served time in prison in connection with a bribery case.

Pheu Thai formed a government headed by Srettha after members of the conservative Senate refused to endorse the prime minister nominated by the progressive Move Forward Party , which won the most seats in last year’s general election.

Thailand is facing several economic challenges and Paetongtarn said Thursday her government will urgently address the issues of high household debt, the rising cost of living and lagging incomes “to bring the hope of Thai people back as soon as possible.”

Among the government’s more immediate plans are measures to relieve household debt and reduce the rising cost of electricity, petrol and transport, as well as to boost tourism and bring new technologies to the agricultural sector, she said.

Paetongtarn said the government will generate new income by legalizing and taxing the “informal economy” and the “underground economy.” Although she provided no details, it was an apparent reference to plans to legalize casinos, which are being promoted as “entertainment complexes” that can attract revenue windfalls.

The draft of the law, sponsored by the Finance Ministry, says a casino would be allowed to operate within a complex that also houses other businesses such as a hotel, a convention hall, a mall or a theme park. Access to casinos will be restricted to those younger than 20 years old. They will be open for foreigners, while Thai citizens must pay 5,000 baht ($148) for an entrance fee, according to the draft.

She said the government will protect small businesses from unfair competition from foreign operators, especially on online platforms. Industry groups in Thailand have expressed increasing concern about an influx of cheap products from China that they say have hurt sales by domestic producers.

Paetongtarn said she will carry out Srettha’s 10,000-baht ($296) digital cash handout program , although details in her speech were sparse. Officials from her administration have said the “Digital Wallet” program, initially promised during last year’s election campaign to give cash handouts to all Thais aged 16 and older, will now prioritize vulnerable low-income groups. They are set to be paid a lump sum this month or by October, while others who are eligible may be paid in installments starting later this year.

In a shift from Srettha , who had vowed to make cannabis illegal again, Paetongtarn said her administration will support medical cannabis as a way to boost the economy, with regulations added to mitigate its social impact. Cannabis was decriminalized in Thailand in 2022, intended only for medicinal use, but in practice the market is virtually unregulated and there was a proliferation of retail shops catering to recreational users.

Fears of drug abuse, especially among young people, as well as concerns about health, prompted a public backlash, and during last year’s election campaign Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai, along with other parties, pledged to restore measures to ban the drug. However, the government in July suddenly signaled it was backtracking from that pledge.

Paetongtarn said her government in the longer term will also address climate change, improve the quality of education and the universal healthcare system, and tackle political instability by drafting a more democratic constitution and reforming the bureaucratic system and the military.

The results of Thailand’s elections last year revealed a strong mandate for change after nearly a decade under military control. Reforms to the military — a powerful political player that has staged two coups since 2006 — were part of Pheu Thai’s campaign platform, although it hedged the pledge significantly after it took power and formed a government with pro-military parties .

Paetongtarn’s rise to power, which made her the country’s youngest leader and second female prime minister, represents the revival of the embattled political dynasty that began with her father Thaksin, a billionaire telecoms tycoon, who was elected prime minister in 2001 but ousted by a military coup in 2006.

She is the third close member of the Shinawatra clan to take the prime minister’s job. Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra , was Thailand’s first female prime minister from 2011 to 2014. An in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, also served briefly as prime minister in 2008.

Thaksin remains a highly influential political figure and is seen as a de facto leader of Pheu Thai. His apparent dominance over the party has triggered controversy, including a petition to the Election Commission accusing Pheu Thai of allowing an outsider to control it, which could result in the party’s dissolution.

After Thaksin was ousted in 2006, the military joined hands with other conservative forces in Thai society to try to thwart a comeback of his political machine. Thaksin’s ouster triggered years of struggle between his supporters and his opponents, in the streets, in the courts and at the ballot box.

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Climate protesters interrupt Youngkin’s remarks remembering 9/11: ‘Disrespectful to our nation’

'no more oil, keep the carbon in the soil,' the protesters chanted.

Americans across the country hold remembrances for 9/11 attacks

Fox News’ Eric Shawn reports on ceremonies nationwide marking 23 years since the September 11 terror attacks.

FIRST ON FOX: Climate change protesters interrupted Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin during a speech to the Federalist Society and Defense of Freedom Institute (DFI) – while he was recounting his visit to Arlington Cemetery’s 9/11 Memorial earlier in the morning. 

Youngkin had been speaking for several minutes when he pivoted to remember those Virginians and Americans lost in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon 23 years ago Wednesday.

A female protester could be heard yelling that Youngkin was "unfit" and that "future generations will remember him as a climate criminal."

Without raising his voice, Youngkin admonished the protesters, saying there could not be a worse time to make their own voices heard:

YOUNGKIN: EDUCATION IS THE BEDROCK TO ATTAINING THE AMERICAN DREAM

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin  (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

"Today is a day of solemn remembrance. I just came from Arlington National Cemetery. I just came from the honor and privilege of laying a wreath at both the Pentagon Group Memorial Burial marker, and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," Youngkin said.

Hearing a plane overhead while in the cemetery made him recall that day in 2001, as he began to speak about a mother and a sister of a victim whom he encountered at the memorial.

Mid-sentence, several protesters moved to the front of the room and unfurled a banner with an offensive nickname for the governor written on it.

Speaking over the protesters and into his microphone, Youngkin said, "Folks, I’m talking about 9/11 right now."

YOUNGKIN TAKES VICTORY LAP AGAINST ‘LOSING STATES’ AS VA MARKS $1B SURPLUS

"There couldn’t be anything more disrespectful to… our nation than what you are doing right now – not a thing."

Undeterred, the climate protesters began chanting: "No more oil, keep the carbon in the soil," as Youngkin was approached by aides.

The governor continued with his address, ignoring the protesters’ chants, saying, "Today is a day to think about America."

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"Today is a day to remind ourselves that there were 3,000 men and women who lost their lives on 9/11. Today is a day to remind ourselves there's evil in the world. And today is finally a day to remember that there are incredibly brave men and women who put their hand up and say: ‘Send me’ that stand between evil and peace."

When asked for further comment, a representative for Youngkin pointed back to his response to the protesters at the time they interrupted him.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Federalist Society and DFI for comment.

Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. 

He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. 

Charles covers media , politics and culture for Fox News Digital.

Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

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