Outgoing UN chief says polluters have treated atmosphere like an ‘open sewer’

António Guterres laments world leaders’ inaction and says oil and gas firms ‘must pay’ for climate devastation

For one last time, António Guterres tried to fix the world’s gaze upon the dangerously escalating climate crisis. But the departing UN secretary general found world leaders still largely focused on other issues, even after a painful summer of stunning climate-driven disasters.

Speaking to assembled dignitaries at the UN on Tuesday, Guterres railed against big oil for treating “the atmosphere as an open sewer” and warned again of the catastrophic effects of the climate crisis.