Your trusted source

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday highlighted the negative impact of climate change on world peace. At a ceremony to mark World Peace Day, Guterres said, "We know that peace is more than just the absence of war. It is about respect, tolerance, and thriving societies in which people live in harmony with each other and with the environment."

"Our theme this year is exactly 'Climate Action for Peace' because we know how much climate change threatens world peace," he said, as quoted by western news outlets.

Natural disasters and extreme weather events -- many a direct consequence of climate change -- are displacing three times as many people as conflicts. The competition for resources is creating tensions between peoples and countries, he noted.

It is no coincidence that the countries most vulnerable to climate change are often those most vulnerable to conflict and fragility, he said, taking the Sahel as an example.

He asked for a sense of urgency. "We are indeed in a race against time. Urgent climate action is needed if we are to win that race, and we must."

He called on world leaders to come to Monday's Climate Action Summit with concrete and bold plans. "Raising ambition and taking climate action is crucial if we are to live in peace and build a world of resilience and prosperity for all."