- UN climate negotiator Stiell told delegates that fossil fuel cost chaos had delivered a global shock wave, hitting households hard and spreading inflation like a cancer.
- Stiell emphasized the urgency of climate action, stating that global heating is already costing the Earth, with vulnerable communities paying the price and frustration at lack of fairness palpable.
- Australia’s climate change minister Chris Bowen, president of the negotiations, acknowledged the 1.5C Paris target will be overshot but stressed that we can return if we work together and act with urgency, solidarity and resolve.
- Bowen urged delegates to show future generations that this generation was equal to the challenge and to rise to this moment together.
- Jess Gasper, an environmental official for the Marshall Islands, warned that the 1.5C limit is in serious danger but that overshoot should never become an excuse for inaction and that every fraction of a degree matters.
- Gasper highlighted the need for adaptation finance, noting it took eight years to get international finance to build a single sea wall for the Marshall Islands, and stressed that I refuse to accept that we experience displacement because the world fails to act.
- Bowen said there is enormous momentum among countries for electrification, with a goal to raise the percentage of final energy consumption from electricity from one-fifth to one-third in the next ten years.
- Dr Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), noted a great appetite for countries to join a historic electrification decision and said we are entering the age of electricity with the goal giving an extra boost and an unmistakable signal to markets.
UN climate negotiator Simon Stiell addressed the Cop31 conference in Antalya, highlighting the severe impact of soaring fossil fuel prices on global inflation. He stated that this 'fossil fuel cost chaos' has created a global shock wave, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities.12
Stiell emphasized the need for urgent action, saying, “The urgency of this moment must drive us forward. Global heating is already costing the Earth.” His remarks reflect a growing frustration among delegates regarding the inequities faced by those most affected by climate change.
Australia’s climate change minister, Chris Bowen, echoed this sentiment, urging delegates to unite in addressing the climate crisis. He acknowledged that while the 1.5C Paris target may be overshot, collective action can still mitigate its effects. Bowen stated, “We can return … if we work together and act with urgency, solidarity and resolve.”3489
The conference also highlighted the need for increased electrification, with Bowen noting a goal to raise electricity's share of final energy consumption from 20% to 33% within the next decade. Dr. Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, remarked on the growing appetite among nations for this historic decision, stating, “The important thing is that we are entering the age of electricity.” This shift could signal a significant move towards renewable and nuclear energy sources, crucial for combating climate change.101112
“Stiell added that global heating is already costing the Earth, with vulnerable communities paying the price and frustration at lack of fairness palpable. Australia's climate minister Chris Bowen acknowledged the 1.5C Paris target will be overshot but urged delegates to return to it with urgency and resolve.”
The Guardian
