United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in an opening speech at a climate summit on Saturday that world leaders should declare a "climate emergency" in their countries.

He stressed that this is necessary to advance efforts to avoid a catastrophic rise in global temperature.

"Can anyone deny that we are facing a very urgent situation ... So today I call on all leaders around the world to declare a climate emergency in their countries, so that we can reach carbon neutrality," Guterres said in a speech via video call.

More than 70 leaders will speak at the virtual one-day summit aimed at rallying efforts for deeper cuts in global warming emissions, on the fifth anniversary of the declaration of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Source: Reuters

By:Nadeemy Haded