UN Chief: Amazon at Risk as 1.5°C Climate Goal Slips Away

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning about the Amazon rainforest’s future while acknowledging that the world is failing to meet critical climate targets. In a candid interview with The Guardian and Sumaúma, Guterres expressed deep concern that the Amazon could transform from a lush rainforest into a dry savannah—a catastrophic shift that would eliminate one of Earth’s most vital carbon sinks.

The UN leader didn’t mince words about global climate progress, describing the COP climate summit process as a “failure” in preventing global temperatures from rising beyond 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. He stated that overshooting this crucial threshold is now “inevitable,” representing a significant blow to international climate efforts that have long focused on this target as essential for avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.

Despite this sobering assessment, Guterres emphasized that protecting indigenous communities must remain a top priority for world leaders. Indigenous peoples are the guardians of many of the planet’s most biodiverse regions, including vast areas of the Amazon, and their traditional knowledge and stewardship practices are crucial for conservation efforts.

The Amazon rainforest plays a critical role in regulating global climate patterns and storing massive amounts of carbon dioxide. Its potential transformation into savannah would not only devastate local ecosystems and communities but could also accelerate global warming by releasing stored carbon and reducing the Earth’s capacity to absorb future emissions. Guterres’ warnings underscore the urgent need for renewed international commitment to both climate action and indigenous rights protection.