in 2022, raking in over $200 billion as energy prices soared in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In some cases, executives have cited the effects of the conflict as justification to push back climate goals. BP, for instance, announced in February that it would no longer aim to cut oil output by 40% by 2030. Instead, the oil giant would aim only to cut production by 25% from 2019 levels by the end of this decade.
Some politicians have taken a similar line to the oil executives in recent months. Last month, the Biden Administration, which has maintained that the U.S. must move away from fossil fuels,a massive new oil project on Alaska’s North Slope, enduring a furious backlash from environmentalists. In his TIME address, Guterres cited progress in renewable energy deployments and net-zero commitments from governments, but he also castigated moves like those of the Biden Administration in Alaska. “New licenses for oil and gas are erasing hard-won gains,” he said. “We are exploring oil and gas that will never be consumed.”
The answer, he said, is for citizens to put more pressure on governments and businesses to make deep emissions cuts. “Now is the time to speak up, to speak louder, to speak better in your workplaces, in your companies, in your schools, in your faith groups, and in your communities,” Guterres said. “Tell your governments, your banks, and businesses you buy from: no more excuses, no more half-measures. We need real climate action now.