UN chief concerned Ukraine war is overshadowing climate fight – calls for ‘massive investment’ in renewable energy
- Antonio Guterres says the scale of the conflict has ‘inevitably’ shifted the focus from other issues, including efforts to halt the global temperature rise
- ‘We need to make a … massive investment in renewable energy [with the] clear understanding that the dependence on fossil fuels is a suicidal one,’ he said
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that Ukraine war is diverting attention away from climate change, while at the same time showcasing the world’s “suicidal” dependence on fossil fuels.
Speaking on Wednesday, ahead of an environmental conference in Stockholm, Guterres said the scale of the conflict has “inevitably” shifted the focus from other issues, including efforts to halt the global temperature rise.
“The sense of urgency in the debate on climate has of course suffered with the war in Ukraine,” Guterres told reporters at the Swedish prime minister’s official residence. “But I think this war has demonstrated one thing: How fragile is the world in its dependence on fossil fuels.”
He pointed to decisions by the European Union this week to stop most imports of Russian oil as part of sanctions imposed after the February 24 invasion of Ukraine. The conflict has underscored how dependent many European countries are on Russian oil and gas.
“So it’s time to learn the lesson,” Guterres said. “If we do not want again to be in the same situation we are today we need to make a clear bet: massive investment in renewable energy and clear understanding that the dependence on fossil fuels is a suicidal one.”