NEW YORK (September 23, 2026) — The UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit took place today, bringing together government leaders, development banks, businesses and civil society. The summit focused on three priorities: keeping 1.5°C within reach, mobilizing finance for developing countries, and advancing adaptation in an era of climate overshoot — when global temperatures temporarily rise above 1.5°C. Just ahead of the summit, Germany announced that it has adopted a national roadmap to phase out fossil fuels by 2045.Following is a statement from Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO, World Resources Institute:’Secretary-General Guterres’s speech was a blunt reality check that world leaders must take to heart. The devastating floods, blistering heatwaves and wildfires of recent months are not isolated tragedies — they are a warning of the far greater disasters that lie ahead.’Entering an era of climate overshoot means our global response needs to shift into overdrive. Countries must be much more aggressive in moving every part of their economy to be cleaner and more resilient, bringing workers, communities, and businesses along with them. These same actions can tackle countries’ core concerns by strengthening economic competitiveness and energy security, lowering costs and creating good jobs.’It is deeply encouraging to see climate adaptation placed in the global spotlight where it belongs. As climate shocks put lives at risk and batter bottom lines, research shows that every dollar spent on adaptation — from protecting communities to strengthening water and food systems — can deliver more than ten dollars in benefits over a decade. It is time to stop treating adaptation like a cost we cannot afford and start treating it as an essential investment in economic and community resilience.’The summit sharpened the case for accelerating a just transition away from fossil fuels. Global momentum for this shift was underscored today as Germany approved a national roadmap to phase out coal, oil, and gas by 2045. More countries should follow.’Volatile fossil fuel prices have exposed families and businesses to a relentless rollercoaster—and a fast, equitable shift to clean energy-powered electrification is how we put our feet on solid ground again. Achieving the Turkish COP Presidency’s goal of 35% electrification by 2035 can be a game changer. Clean electrification can stabilize costs, strengthen energy security, reduce air pollution and create good jobs. Delivering it will require investing in modern, flexible grids, storage, efficient buildings and technologies, and stronger efforts to lower the cost of capital and unlock private investment at scale.’Cooperation across borders is more vital than ever, even though countries’ paths won’t all be the same. Today’s summit set a shared direction that only a UN gathering can deliver, but the real test is what happens next. Countries must now use every economic and policy tool at their disposal, at home and through international forums like COP31, to turn today’s vision into reality.’