The World Meteorological Organization warned Wednesday 2020 is set to be one of the three hottest years on record — despite a La Niña weather pattern that usually cools the climate. Here in New York, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said there was no way the world could prevent the worst effects of the climate crisis unless the U.S. rejoins the Paris Climate Agreement and unites with other nations to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Secretary-General António Guterres: “To put it simply, the state of the planet is broken. Dear friends, humanity is waging war on nature. This is suicidal. Nature always strikes back. And it is already doing so with growing force and fury.”