We are losing the race on climate change: UN chief

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Thursday warned that the world is losing the race on climate change as he demanded that governments make bolder commitments beyond the Paris accord. Speaking on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said, "Climate change is the defining issue of our time. We are losing the race."

"It is absolutely central to reverse this trend," he said and added that he was not hopeful that nations would find the resolve but stressed. "We need political will and we need governments who understand that this is the most important priority of our times." Stating that the commitments made in Paris were already "not enough", The UN secretary-general said:  "If what we agreed in Paris would be materialised, the temperature would rise more than 3.0 degrees (Celsius)."

He said on a Facebook Live broadcast from Davos:  "We need countries to make stronger commitments." Guterres called for more measures to mitigate against climate change, adapt to it, and financial aid for poorer countries.