Secretary-General António Guterres in address to COP30 Leaders' Summit in Belém, Brazil
António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General
Science now tells us that a temporary overshoot beyond the 1.5 limit – starting at the latest in the early 2030s – is inevitable...If we act now, we can make the overshoot as small, as short, and as safe as possible – and bring temperatures back below 1.5°C before century’s end [by] peaking global emissions immediately; by reaching global net zero by 2050, and by drastically increasing investments in adaptation and resilience.... We can choose to lead – or be led to ruin. Choose to make Belém the turning point.
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Number of United Nations Secretaries-General since its creation in 1945
Number of years of the term of office of the UN Secretary-General, with the possibility of renewal
First Secretary-General to have previously held the position of Head of Government
Number of candidates for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2016