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U.N. Warns of Climate Catastrophe, Urges Immediate and Dramatic Action

HeadlineMar 21, 2023

The United Nations warns in a new report the world is on pace to blow past a critical global heating threshold by the early 2030s, unless nations take immediate and dramatic steps to mitigate the climate catastrophe. The U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said Monday the planet is on course to warm by an average of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels within a decade, causing irreversible damage to human populations and ecosystems. The report warns of worsening heat waves, flooding, drought, rising sea levels, famine, mass extinction and the spread of infectious diseases. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres announced the findings Monday, saying a livable future for all is still possible, if nations take urgent action.

Secretary-General António Guterres: “The 1.5-degree limit is achievable. But it will take a quantum leap in climate action. This report is a clarion call to massively fast-track climate efforts by every country and every sector and on every timeframe. In short, our world needs climate action on all fronts — everything, everywhere, all at once.”

Here in the United States, climate activists have organized a day of action today against key banks they say are fueling global heating. We’ll have more on the IPCC report and today’s protests after headlines.

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