At the official opening of Climate Week in New York, which runs concurrently with the UN General Assembly, the minister emphasized that the crisis related to fossil fuels became evident after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the US-led war in Iran. He noted that this demonstrates the need to achieve energy independence through clean energy.
He stated that the climate crisis should be viewed not only by activists or environmentalists but also by foreign ministries, prime ministers, as well as ministries of energy and climate, and the security community.
The official also deemed the current situation unacceptable, citing examples such as a summer with record heat and wildfires in the Northern Hemisphere, deadly floods in Nepal caused by glacier melt, and the record El Niño phenomenon.
It was noted that climate and nature must be integrated into national security systems and country threat assessments. Furthermore, it was said that states are obliged to exchange information, as a crisis starting in one country can quickly spread through supply chains, financial markets, and migration flows.
Following Ed Miliband's speech, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began discussions, calling for action. He referenced his country's economy, which is heavily dependent on fossil fuels but is currently undergoing a rapid transition to renewable energy. Albanese stated: 'We cannot avoid the scale of our responsibility or the cost of inaction.'
Climate change is a key issue for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose mandate expires at the end of the year. He convened the world leaders' summit ahead of COP31, which will take place in Turkey in November.
Climate Week in New York is held annually during the UN General Assembly to accelerate climate action and decarbonization of the planet. It is organized by the non-governmental organization 'Climate Group'. The event concludes on the 27th, and its central theme is increasing electrification and phasing out fossil fuels under the slogan 'Energy. Impact. Action.' 'Climate Group' asserts that this week is the largest climate event in the world, gathering over 100,000 people annually for more than 1,000 events in New York.
