UN chief warns about negative impact of global warming in U.S.

UNited Nations Secretary-general Antonio Guterres speaks at the news conference for the laUNch of an annual report of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 28, 2019. The WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate 2018 states that 2018 was the fourth warmest year on record and that 2015-2018 were the four warmest years on record. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres on Thursday warned that the UNited States, whose federal administration has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement on climate change, will face more consequences of global warming.

Asked to offer a message given Washington's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, Guterres said: "The message is clear. Climate change will have a global impact, but the negative impact of climate change in some regions of the world, and namely the UNited States, is already substantial and will become more and more relevant, UNless we are able to globally reverse the trend."

Last year, in the UNited States alone, there were 14 weather- and climate-related disasters where the devastation cost more than 1 billion U.S. dollars each, with a total loss of some 49 billion dollars, Guterres told a news conference for the laUNch of an annual report of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

"Obviously, we can estimate that, in a developed economy, when storms strike, there is potentially a higher volume of assets that can be impacted. But, on the other hand, let's not forget that developed economies also are more resilient and have more capacity to resist these kinds of disasters," he noted.

Casualties are usually heavier in poor coUNtries, which are much less equipped, he said.

Guterres commended the climate action of local governments and businesses after Washington's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. "We should not UNderestimate the impact of the action of cities, businesses, and even states that are assuming leadership in making sure that, even in the UNited States, there is a very strong commitment to climate change."

The WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate 2018 states that 2018 was the fourth warmest year on record and that 2015-2018 were the four warmest years on record. Average global temperature reached about 1 degree Celcius above pre-industrial levels.