World political leaders are convening in New York for the UN General Assembly, with some addressing the climate crisis at the start of the city’s annual Climate Week. This year's Climate Week follows months of extreme heat globally, wildfires in Africa, flash flooding in Asia, and a record-breaking El Niño.
Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, delivered the opening keynote address, while Iceland's Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir, gave the closing remarks on Monday. Both leaders discussed the climate crisis's impact on their nations, their efforts to transition from fossil fuels, and their support for other countries to do the same.
Mr Albanese stated that scientific forecasts of more frequent and intense weather events due to global warming have materialised. Ms Frostadóttir highlighted Iceland's shift to geothermal energy, noting that nearly every home in Iceland is now heated with renewable energy, over 90% of which is geothermal.
UK Foreign Minister Ed Miliband also spoke, describing the instability of continued reliance on fossil fuels as a "fossil fuel roller coaster." He emphasised the need to integrate climate and nature into national security systems, threat assessments, and contingency planning.