UN Secretary-General António Guterres has criticised the fossil fuel industry for obstructing climate action, calling on governments to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and make oil and gas companies pay for the damage caused by climate change.

Speaking at the ongoing COP31 climate negotiations in Antalya, Türkiye, on Wednesday, November 11, Guterres accused powerful fossil fuel interests of delaying progress on climate action and urged world leaders to confront the industry’s influence.

“Fossil fuels must go the way of the dinosaurs, but that won’t happen on its own. The dinosaurs did not have a lobby, but fossil fuels do,” Guterres said.

The UN chief warned that the world was now on course to exceed the 1.5°C global warming threshold established under the Paris Agreement. However, he insisted that governments still had the power to limit the extent and duration of the overshoot.

“Science is not telling us to surrender. It’s telling us to fight harder. The truth is that we have the power to determine how high, how long, and how devastating that overshoot will be,” he said.

Pointing to the substantial profits made by fossil fuel companies, Guterres called for governments to introduce taxes on industry windfall profits and channel the proceeds towards helping vulnerable countries recover from climate-related disasters.

“Those who profit most from fossil fuels must help foot the bill for the damage they have caused,” he said. “So it’s time for governments to tax these windfall profits and use them to help vulnerable countries recover. Polluters must pay.”

Wednesday’s address was Guterres’ final appearance at a UN climate conference as Secretary-General, with his term ending in December 2026. He pledged, however, to remain an advocate for climate action after leaving office.

“Starting next year, I will no longer be Secretary-General, but you can count on this. I will not stop telling the truth, and I will not stop fighting for it. I will be standing side by side with you as an advocate and an ally,” he said.

Africa calls for a fair energy transition
As world leaders debate the future of fossil fuels, African climate advocates are emphasising the need for a transition that recognises the continent’s energy challenges, development priorities and potential to expand renewable energy.

Fred Njehu, Pan African Political Strategist at Greenpeace Africa, has reiterated the importance of investing in renewable energy systems, arguing that Africa has an opportunity to reduce its dependence on imported petroleum products while developing cleaner and more sustainable energy alternatives.

“One of the most important elements about the transition to consider for Africa is the fact that we are net importers of fossil fuels across the continent. So we don’t need to import any further to address our energy needs,” Njehu said.

Africa’s position is increasingly reflected in calls for a transition that goes beyond simply replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy.