UN chief condemns oil giants for treating atmosphere as a dumping ground

At a United Nations high-level gathering, outgoing Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a scathing critique of the fossil-fuel sector, saying it treats the atmosphere like an open sewer. He noted that five leading Western oil companies have amassed substantial profits following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while only $34 billion has been mobilised to help vulnerable countries adapt to warming. Guterres pointed out that ordinary people are facing higher expenses for energy, food and insurance, drawing a parallel between the oil industry’s power abuse and the tactics of Big Tobacco.

He urged the firms that have both polluted the most and earned the most to take far greater action to repair climate harm. The remarks came after record heatwaves and catastrophic flooding in Nepal, and as the UN warned that the 1.5°C target is likely to be temporarily exceeded. Guterres ended on a hopeful note, citing the rapid growth of solar and wind power, which now often provide the cheapest electricity worldwide, and previewed his final climate summit ahead of COP31 in Antalya.