Marshall Islands president warns time is running out to stop climate overshoot
Climate leaders warned at COP31 that overshoot will destroy island nations as Earth warms past 1.5C.
Marshall Islands president Hilda Heine told world leaders that without urgent action, the climate crisis means their island nations face waves eroding shores and floods destroying towns, schools and hospitals.
Heine described coral bleaching from bright colours to white in just months. UN secretary general António Guterres said oil and gas companies distorted science and called for a windfall tax on their profits to help vulnerable nations.
Australia is co-hosting COP31 with Turkey, though Albanese was criticised for not naming fossil fuels in his speech.
- 2.8 degrees
- Temperature overshoot projected
- Hilda Heine, Marshall Islands president
- Speaker
- Turkey
- Summit location
- 1.5C above pre-industrial levels
- Target limit
Why it mattersThe world is locking in warming above 1.5C despite pledges, meaning small island nations face existential threats and all nations must adapt to extreme heat, floods and storms that are already accelerating.
AustraliaAs a co-host of COP31 and one of the world's largest coal and liquified gas exporters, Australia faces pressure to commit stronger emissions cuts; climate-driven impacts like extreme weather will intensify domestically.
