The stark message from António Guterres follows a year of global upheaval, with the coronavirus pandemic causing governments to shut down whole countries for months at a time, while wildfires, hurricanes and powerful storms have scarred the globe.
Instead, governments around the world, including Canada, expect to go in the opposite direction — producing more coal, oil or natural gas, which will result in more than double what is consistent with the Paris Agreement.
The Department of National Defence has released its Defence Energy and Environment Strategy for the 2020-23 period and expects to cut its pollution by 265 kilotonnes by 2030.
Proposals for new mines, power plants, pipelines or railways in Canada will have to include plans to hit "net zero" emissions by 2050 if they have any hope of getting approved.
What began as a friendly rivalry between two southern Alberta towns has ended with what may be one of the most extensive programs of solar power anywhere in the country.
Canadian cities hoping to lead the charge on climate change action should be taking notes from the Texan capital of Austin, writes columnist Hamish Stewart.