In a stark warning to the global community, UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared that no country is immune to the devastating effects of extreme weather fueled by climate change. Speaking ahead of the upcoming climate talks, Guterres emphasized the urgent need to expand early warning systems worldwide to safeguard lives and economies.

“Every country, rich or poor, faces growing threats from floods, droughts, heatwaves, and storms,” Guterres said, highlighting how climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and severe across all continents. He stressed that early warning systems — which provide critical alerts about impending hazards — can reduce disaster-related deaths and damages by up to 80% if implemented effectively.

The United Nations has launched the “Early Warnings for All” initiative, aiming to ensure that every person on Earth is protected by an early warning system by 2027. Currently, nearly half of the world’s population, particularly in developing nations, lacks access to such vital infrastructure.

Guterres urged world leaders to invest in weather forecasting technologies, data-sharing networks, and local community preparedness programs to build resilience against the escalating climate crisis.

He also pointed to recent disasters — from record-breaking floods in Asia and wildfires in Europe to prolonged droughts in Africa — as evidence that climate impacts are now universal, not regional.

“The climate crisis is a global emergency,” Guterres said. “We must act together — and early warning systems are one of the most effective tools we have to save lives and protect our economies.”

The statement serves as a rallying call for COP30 negotiations and broader international cooperation to strengthen climate adaptation and disaster-response capacities.