UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accused major oil companies of treating the atmosphere "like an open sewer" and urged them to repair the damage they have caused. He highlighted that five Western oil firms have profited nearly $500 billion since the Ukraine invasion, compared with about $34 billion mobilized for adaptation. Guterres warned the world may temporarily breach the Paris 1.5°C target but noted the global boom in cheap solar and wind power offers a path forward. He will convene a pre-COP31 summit ahead of November's climate talks in Antalya.
Guterres Slams 'Big Oil' for Treating Atmosphere 'Like an Open Sewer' and Demands Accountability Ahead of Pre-COP31 Summit
Rescuers use an excavator to transport a flood survivor, following flash floods and a landslide disaster in Nepal's Nuwakot district; outgoing UN chief Antonio Guterres has lashed out at oil companies at his swansong speech to the general assembly (PRAKASH MATHEMA)
Outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a sharp rebuke of major oil companies at a UN high-level meeting, accusing them of treating the atmosphere "like an open sewer" and profiting from the damage their products cause.
"For decades, Big Oil has treated the atmosphere as an open sewer — and cashed in on the consequences," Guterres said. "We know that fossil fuel interests won't step aside on their own."
He warned that, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, five major Western oil companies have taken in nearly half a trillion dollars in profits — a windfall he contrasted with the roughly $34 billion mobilized to help developing countries adapt to climate change.
"Meanwhile, everyday people are paying more for energy, food and insurance," Guterres added, likening the fossil fuel industry's "abuse of power" to the tactics once used by Big Tobacco. "Those who polluted the most — and profited the most — must do far more to repair the damage they caused," he urged.
Why This Matters
Guterres' remarks come amid a summer of record-breaking temperatures across the northern hemisphere and severe climate-related disasters, including devastating flooding in Nepal following a glacial collapse. The UN has warned the world is likely to temporarily exceed the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels — a prospect that underscores the urgency of stronger mitigation and adaptation finance.
Signs of Hope
Despite the stark warning, Guterres pointed to rapid growth in solar and wind power: renewables are now the cheapest source of energy in most parts of the world, offering a pathway to reduce emissions and energy costs if governments and industries accelerate the transition.
Climate change has been a defining priority of Guterres' tenure. He will convene a pre-COP31 climate summit on Wednesday ahead of the full COP31 talks in Antalya in November. Observers will be watching whether co-hosts Turkey and Australia, both reliant on fossil fuels, raise their ambition — a shift seen as critical for meaningful progress.
Bottom line: Guterres called for greater accountability from fossil fuel companies, more financing for vulnerable countries, and faster deployment of renewable energy as key responses to the intensifying climate crisis.
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