UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited South Africa during its G20 Presidency, emphasizing the urgent need for climate justice. He stressed that Africa, with its young and growing population, rich cultural and natural diversity, and entrepreneurial spirit, continues to face the lingering injustices of its colonial past. “I am here at a critical time as South Africa assumes the G20 presidency. Africa’s potential is undeniable… but it needs climate justice. The continent is on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Despite contributing minimal emissions, climate change is wreaking havoc on your people and economies. Africa is warming faster than the global average. We must limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C to prevent this crisis from spiraling further,” Guterres said.
The UN chief also expressed concern about the escalating chaos in the Middle East, particularly following the recent ousting of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, though he maintained a sense of cautious optimism about the region’s future.