Planet 'Being Killed' by Governments, Says Thunberg

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg delivered a scathing critique of global governments at the Cop31 summit in Antalya, Turkey, marking her first appearance at UN climate talks in five years. She declared the planet is "not dying, it is being killed" by the very entities meant to protect it. Thunberg emphasized that when human rights are threatened, it is a duty to fight for everyone's.

Thunberg connected the worsening climate crisis to other global issues, including war and ecocide, warning of a future with compromised rights and basic necessities becoming luxuries. Her intervention came as leaders at the summit acknowledged the slow progress on climate action. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham noted the UK's record hot summer was "not normal" and promised the nation would reach net zero emissions.

Campaigners, however, cautioned that showing up to talks is insufficient without substantive action. Current policies are on track to raise global temperatures by 2.7C by the century's end, significantly exceeding the agreed-upon 1.5C target. The summit also heard firsthand accounts of climate devastation, including a "mountain tsunami" in Nepal triggered by a melting glacier, which caused over 1,500 fatalities.

Discussions also touched on the environmental toll of conflicts. The prime minister of Palestine highlighted how Israeli restrictions and destruction in Gaza have exacerbated climate challenges and health risks. While the US did not formally send a delegation, figures like former Secretary of State John Kerry attended, expressing hope for renewed US engagement on climate issues following recent midterm election results.