Alarming Climate Data Puts Pressure on Rich Nations to Share Green Tech

Last year brought new records for sea-level rise, ocean temperature, greenhouse gas concentrations and ocean acidification, according to a new UN World Meteorological Organization climate report card. The climate crisis is getting worse, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres marked the report’s release by calling on rich countries to share the intellectual property for energy technologies that can accelerate the badly-needed transition away from fossil fuels.

Guterres admonished countries to fast-track infrastructure build-out and eliminate bureaucracy that stands in the way. Batteries and related power-storage technology should be treated as "freely available public goods," he said in a video message. He also singled out fossil fuel subsidies, that "every minute of every day" grant $11 million to coal, oil and gas companies.