Government or international body announcements

UN Chief Guterres Warns of AI Nuclear War Threat, 80% Chance of Exceeding 1.5-Degree Limit

Jun 9, 2024, 06:49 AM

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning about the dual threats posed by artificial intelligence and climate change. Guterres emphasized that humanity is on a 'knife's edge' as AI technology raises the risk of nuclear conflict. Additionally, he highlighted the urgent need to address climate change, describing the current situation as playing 'Russian roulette' with the planet. Guterres pointed to the World Meteorological Organization's report indicating an 80% chance of exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold. He criticized the fossil fuel industry for prioritizing profits over the planet, leading to the climate crisis. Guterres called for an 'exit ramp off the highway to climate hell' and immediate action to mitigate these risks and transition to renewable energy sources. He also noted that the fossil fuel industry benefits from trillions in taxpayer-funded subsidies.