‘Crunch time for real’: UN says time for climate delays has run out

A UN environment programme report urged nations to act at Cop29. Picture: Eric Thayer/AP

The huge cuts in carbon emissions now needed to end the climate crisis mean it is “crunch time for real”, according to the UN’s environment chief.

An unprecedented global mobilisation of renewable energy, forest protection, and other measures is needed to steer the world off the current path towards a catastrophic temperature rise of 3.1C, a report from the UN environment programme (Unep) has found. Extreme heatwaves, storms, droughts, and floods are already ravaging communities, with less than 1.5C of global heating to date.