‘Climate carnage’: UN demands funding surge to save millions of lives

Pakistani children use a satellite dish as a raft during flooding in Balochistan province in August. The growing impact of the climate crisis has been clear this year. Photograph: Fida Hussain/AFP/Getty Images

A dramatic increase in funding for climate adaptation is needed to save millions of lives from “climate carnage”, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, has said.

Climate adaptation includes preparing defences against rising floods, shelters against intensifying cyclones and emergency plans to protect people during worsening heatwaves and droughts. Guterres said only a small fraction of the required finance was given by rich nations to protect vulnerable people.