‘We absolutely need to act immediately,’ says UN chief during visit to Antarctica ahead of COP28

By ISABELLA O’MALLEY and ALEXANDRE PLAZA
Associated Press

KING GEORGE ISLAND, Antarctica (AP) — Ahead of international climate talks, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited globally-important Antarctica, where ice that’s been frozen for millions of years is melting due to human-caused climate change, sending the message that “we absolutely need to act immediately.” The visit comes just before the COP28 begins in Dubai. Guterres, accompanied by Chilean President Gabriel Boric, witnessed the thawing landscape firsthand. Antarctica plays a significant role in regulating Earth’s climate because it reflects sunlight away from Earth and drives major ocean currents. Guterres mentioned the big responsibility Sultan al-Jaber, president of the upcoming climate talks and head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, has to encourage more clean energy investments.