No more ‘business as usual’ in climate fight, UN boss warns ‘slipping’ politicians

LONDON — The world’s richest countries must end their “business as usual” approach to climate change or risk worsening global inequality, a leading United Nations diplomat warned Wednesday.

Simon Stiell, executive secretary for U.N. Climate Change, told an event at Chatham House in London that politicians must embrace the “transformative potential of bold climate action,” which can act as “a jobs jackpot and economic springboard to boost countries up that global ladder of living standards.”

“In the face of crop-destroying droughts, much bolder climate action to curb emissions and help farmers adapt will increase food security and lessen hunger," he said. "Cutting fossil fuel pollution will mean better health and huge savings for governments and households alike."

But Stiell, whose agency is tasked with supporting the global response to climate change, warned that dealing with global issues like hunger and access to education will not be possible “unless we get the climate crisis under control.”

“In fact, business-as-usual will further entrench the gross inequalities between the world’s richest and poorest countries and communities, that unchecked climate impacts are making much worse,” Stiell said.

Stiell also warned politicians against downgrading the importance of climate change. “Too often, we’re seeing signs of climate action slipping down cabinet agendas,” he said, at a time when “ordinary people everywhere” back stronger climate action.

“The only surefire way to get climate at the top of the cabinet agenda is if enough people raise their voices,” he said.

Stiell’s speech comes ahead of the U.N.-organized COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November.