We can't treat nature like a toilet - Guterres tells COP26

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has urged world leaders to take action and ensure that nature is no longer "treated like a toilet."

Addressing the opening of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) on Monday, the UN Chief also announced that a group of experts will be convened to standardise the meanings and metrics for measuring carbon emissions.

"Either we stop it or it stops us. And it's time to say, enough. Enough of killing ourselves with carbon. Enough of treating nature like a toilet. Enough of burning and drilling and mining our way deeper. We are digging our own graves," Guterres said.

He added that countries must revisit their national climate plans and policies.

"On behalf of future generations, choose ambition, choose solidarity, and choose to safeguard humanity and our future," the UN boss said.

Gutteres said that there is a deficit of credibility and a surplus of confusion over emissions reduction and net zero targets, with different meanings and different metrics.

He added that those suffering the most – namely, Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States – need urgent funding.

"More public climate finance.  More overseas development aid.  More grants.  Easier access to funding," Guterres said.

Speaking after Guterres, Prince Charles said that the Covid pandemic has shown how devastating cross-border crises can be.

The Prince of Wales says that time has literally run out and the global leaders at COP26 must come up with actions.

"My plea today is for countries to come together to create the environment that enables every sector of industry to take the action required. We know this will take trillions not millions of dollars," Prince Charles said.

Edited by CM