Extreme weather events took a heavy toll in human lives, caused shocks to food and water security, and led to hundreds of billions of dollars in economic losses last year. The report, which describes yet more clear signs that human activity is causing damage on a global scale, also confirms that the last seven years have been the warmest on record, with global temperatures in 2021 reaching around 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. The UN Secretary-General soulign that renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar power are readily available and, in most cases, cheaper than coal and other fossil fuels. Mr. Guterres proposed five crucial actions to accelerate the energy transition, which he described as “the peace project of the 21st century”.
