Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Secretary-General/ Belém Climate Summit
Security Council
State of the Climate
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Sudan
Afghanistan
Hurricane Melissa
International Day
Guest
SECRETARY-GENERAL/ BELÉM CLIMATE SUMMIT
This morning, in Brazil, the Secretary-General spoke at the Plenary of Leaders of the Belém Climate Summit. He noted that the hard truth is that we have failed to ensure that we remain below 1.5 degrees.
The Secretary-General pointed out that after decades of denial and delay, science now tells us that a temporary overshoot beyond the 1.5 limit is inevitable – starting at the latest in the early 2030s. He stressed that we need a fundamental paradigm shift to limit this overshoot’s magnitude and duration and quickly drive it down.
The Secretary-General warned that even a temporary overshoot will unleash far greater destruction and costs for every nation. Every fraction of a degree means more hunger, displacement, and loss – especially for those least responsible.
This morning, the Secretary-General held bilateral meetings with the President of the EU Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa. He also met the First-ranked Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Ding Xuexiang.
Also today, the Secretary-General is to address the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility. He will say that tropical forests breathe life into our planet. Yet, he will add, they remain under relentless assault – treated as short-term profit, not long-term value.
The Secretary-General underscored that the Facility is a bold mechanism to make standing forests more valuable than cleared land – aligning conservation with opportunity, and solidarity with shared prosperity. He stressed that Governments, development banks, and the private sector must join forces to close the finance gap, unlock investment for sustainable forest economies and scale up monitoring and restoration.
This afternoon, the Secretary-General will deliver remarks at a session on Climate and Nature: Forests and Ocean. He will also meet with other leaders attending the conference.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the head of the UN Environment Programme, Inger Andersen, addressed a session of the Security Council dedicated to the environmental impact of armed conflict.
She told Council members that environmental damage caused by conflicts continues to push people into hunger, disease and displacement – increasing insecurity.
She added that climate change exacerbates tensions, and – under some conditions – contributes to conflicts and that conflict-affected countries and communities must be supported with tools to protect natural resources and the environment.
In her remarks, Ms. Andersen highlighted three priorities that would enhance environmental support to conflict-affected counties.
She told Council members that the first priority should be to rebuild national capacity for environmental management, supported by science-based assessments and tools.
Member States should also increase investments in climate adaptation in conflict-affected countries.
As we head to COP30 in Belem, Ms. Andersen said, high ambition is needed both on adaptation and on mitigation. Every fraction of a degree avoided means lower losses for people and ecosystems – and greater opportunities for peace and prosperity.
STATE OF THE CLIMATE
Today, the World Meteorological Organization published its State of the Climate Update for COP30. The report, released in Belém, says that the alarming streak of exceptional temperatures continued this year, and 2025 is set to be either the second or third warmest year on record.
The report also reveals that the past 11 years (2015-2025) are set to be the warmest on record, with each year surpassing previous temperature highs.
Concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases and ocean heat content, which both reached record levels last year, continued to rise in 2025.
Arctic sea ice extent after the winter freeze was the lowest on record, and Antarctic sea ice extent tracked well below average throughout the year. The long-term sea level rise trend continued despite a small and temporary blip due to naturally occurring factors.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight