UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Saturday that Africa will pay a “deadly price” for climate change despite having done “very little” to cause it.

He told A G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg that the world has already “failed” to keep warming within the 1.5°C (2.7°F) limit, making a temporary overshoot inevitable and requiring efforts to keep it “as small, short and safe as possible.”

“In any case, there will be dire consequences, more and worse, heat waves, wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and hunger,” he said.

Guterres said G20’s leadership and support are needed as “we build the resilient world people and planet required.”

He said avoiding further “climate chaos” requires bridging the adaptation gap as a key element of climate justice, with countries keeping promises, starting by doubling adaptation finance this year and aiming to triple it by 2030 with support from multilateral development banks.

He called for safeguarding the COP29 Baku finance goals, capitalizing the loss and damage fund, establishing global early-warning systems by 2027, investing in resilient food systems and sharply reducing emissions this decade while accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

He said last year, 90% of new power capacity came from renewables.

Highlighting renewables as the cheapest source of new electricity in nearly every country, Guterres said ensuring all countries benefit requires financing and technology to help developing nations invest in grids, storage and efficiency and support for workers and communities affected by the transition.

“All of these requires massive investment, debt relief, greater access to concessional finance reform of the global financial system, all to give developing countries representation that reflects the realities of today’s global economy,” he said. (Anadolu Agency)