António Guterres, in his final press conference at COP31, reflected emotionally on his nearly decade-long tenure as United Nations secretary-general, which is set to conclude next month. After modestly waving away applause, Guterres described himself as a humble but persistent truth teller on the climate crisis. “I have tried to speak the truth about climate change,” he said. “Sometimes that truth has been uncomfortable. Sometimes it has been unwelcome. But my responsibility has never been to make the facts more convenient. It has been to tell the truth rooted in the science, and to be especially clear when the truth is hard.”&nbsp;Guterres said the reality is that the climate crisis is spinning dangerously out of control, requiring countries to intensify their efforts on every front to contain it. He noted that during his tenure, climate change had become “central to every aspect of the work of the United Nations”, influencing everything from conflicts to poverty reduction. “My message as I leave Antalya is simple: Face the facts. Follow the science. Choose the future. And never give up,” he said.&nbsp;During the press conference, Guterres also answered questions from journalists, including one from Fiona Harvey, who asked whether he had any regrets about being an outspoken advocate for climate action. “I do not consider to be outspoken, I say simply what is true,” he answered. He then spoke emotionally about the growing awareness among the public, civil society, governments and institutions of the dangers posed by the climate crisis. “There is growing in public opinion and growing in civil society and growing in the commitment of several governments and institutions a conscience that we are still on a trajectory to disaster, and a conscience that what I say is not to be outspoken. It is just to tell a very simple and obvious truth.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/because-of-your-d-australian-pm-crude-remarks-caught-on-hot-mic-at-cop31-climate-summit-1794634987465">'Because of your d***?': Australian PM crude remarks caught on hot mic at COP31 climate summit</a>&nbsp;In his final speech, Guterres issued another stark warning, saying, “You cannot build peace on a burning planet.”The outgoing UN chief highlighted the progress made during his time in office while pointing to the significant gap between what climate science demands and what political leaders are delivering. “You cannot build peace on a burning planet,” he said. You cannot eradicate poverty when climate disasters keep throwing people back into it. You cannot promise young people a better future while destroying the natural systems on which that future depends. And you cannot speak seriously about justice when those who did least to cause this crisis suffer first and worst.”&nbsp;Guterres also backed the Turkish and Australian co-hosts' push for electrification, stressing that it must be clean. He praised the COP30 presidency's roadmaps for transitioning away from fossil fuels and tackling deforestation. He further called for action to address the disproportionate influence of the fossil fuel lobby in climate discussions. “The future of our planet cannot be negotiated on the terms of those profiting from its destruction.”

Outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivers an emotional final COP31 speech, urging urgent climate action and warning against the growing climate crisis

António Guterres, in his final press conference at COP31, reflected emotionally on his nearly decade-long tenure as United Nations secretary-general, which is set to conclude next month. After modestly waving away applause, Guterres described himself as a humble but persistent truth teller on the climate crisis. “I have tried to speak the truth about climate change,” he said. “Sometimes that truth has been uncomfortable. Sometimes it has been unwelcome. But my responsibility has never been to make the facts more convenient. It has been to tell the truth rooted in the science, and to be especially clear when the truth is hard.” Guterres said the reality is that the climate crisis is spinning dangerously out of control, requiring countries to intensify their efforts on every front to contain it. He noted that during his tenure, climate change had become “central to every aspect of the work of the United Nations”, influencing everything from conflicts to poverty reduction. “My message as I leave Antalya is simple: Face the facts. Follow the science. Choose the future. And never give up,” he said. During the press conference, Guterres also answered questions from journalists, including one from Fiona Harvey, who asked whether he had any regrets about being an outspoken advocate for climate action. “I do not consider to be outspoken, I say simply what is true,” he answered. He then spoke emotionally about the growing awareness among the public, civil society, governments and institutions of the dangers posed by the climate crisis. “There is growing in public opinion and growing in civil society and growing in the commitment of several governments and institutions a conscience that we are still on a trajectory to disaster, and a conscience that what I say is not to be outspoken. It is just to tell a very simple and obvious truth.” Also Read: 'Because of your d***?': Australian PM crude remarks caught on hot mic at COP31 climate summit In his final speech, Guterres issued another stark warning, saying, “You cannot build peace on a burning planet.” The outgoing UN chief highlighted the progress made during his time in office while pointing to the significant gap between what climate science demands and what political leaders are delivering. “You cannot build peace on a burning planet,” he said. You cannot eradicate poverty when climate disasters keep throwing people back into it. You cannot promise young people a better future while destroying the natural systems on which that future depends. And you cannot speak seriously about justice when those who did least to cause this crisis suffer first and worst.” Guterres also backed the Turkish and Australian co-hosts' push for electrification, stressing that it must be clean. He praised the COP30 presidency's roadmaps for transitioning away from fossil fuels and tackling deforestation. He further called for action to address the disproportionate influence of the fossil fuel lobby in climate discussions. “The future of our planet cannot be negotiated on the terms of those profiting from its destruction.”

Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres delivers an emotional final COP31 message, warning that the climate crisis is escalating and urging countries to act

'You cannot build peace on a burning planet': Outgoing UN Chief Antonio Guterres calls for urgent climate action in final COP31 address

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his climate minister Chris Bowen were caught making a crude joke about their genitalia during a hot-mic exchange on the sidelines of the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey. The footage, first broadcast by Australia's Channel Seven on Friday (November 13), captured Albanese and Bowen chatting between meetings during the climate summit.&nbsp;Albanese advised Bowen against keeping his phone next to his heart, warning that ‘it can interfere with your rhythm’. The climate minister responded that he was more concerned about keeping his phone in his pocket. Albanese then asked: 'Because of your d***?" "Arguably more important than the heart," Bowen replied, chuckling.<h2>Watch the viral video here</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Chris Bowen and Albanese at COP having a casual conversation about frequency and mobile radiation affecting certain organs, not realising the mic was on! 

Tweedledee and Tweedledumb. The radiation obviously got to their brains.🤦🏻‍♀️ https://t.co/huaec1vYEW&mdash; katy 🌸 (@KatyKray73) <a href="https://x.com/KatyKray73/status/2121335281009979411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A spokesperson for Albanese told news agency AFP: "They were having a joke in between meetings". Australia is presiding over negotiations at COP31, but has faced accusations of hypocrisy because of its position as a major exporter of fossil fuels.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/video-captures-horrifying-moment-brooklyn-apartment-building-collapses-killing-eight-people-1794626607710">Video captures horrifying moment Brooklyn apartment building collapses, killing eight people</a>&nbsp;Albanese has already attracted criticism this year over his crude banter. On a podcast, he said he would ‘shag’ singer Kylie Minogue. He also made an innuendo-filled remark about a gift of melons from the Japanese prime minister. However, Albanese is not the first Australian prime minister to face controversy over a hot-mic joke.&nbsp;His conservative predecessor, Tony Abbott, faced backlash in 2015 after laughing at a joke made by his immigration minister about time-keeping on Pacific islands and the threat of rising seawater caused by climate change. "Time does not mean anything when you are about to have water lapping at your door," Peter Dutton, former Leader of the Opposition of Australia, quipped, before being told that a microphone was still on. The remarks offended Pacific island leaders.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese and climate minister Chris Bowen are caught making a crude hot-mic joke at the COP31 climate summit in Turkey

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his climate minister Chris Bowen were caught making a crude joke about their genitalia during a hot-mic exchange on the sidelines of the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey. The footage, first broadcast by Australia's Channel Seven on Friday (November 13), captured Albanese and Bowen chatting between meetings during the climate summit. Albanese advised Bowen against keeping his phone next to his heart, warning that ‘it can interfere with your rhythm’. The climate minister responded that he was more concerned about keeping his phone in his pocket. Albanese then asked: 'Because of your d***?" "Arguably more important than the heart," Bowen replied, chuckling. Watch the viral video here

Anthony Albanese and climate minister Chris Bowen are caught on a hot mic exchanging a crude joke during the COP31 climate summit in Turkey

'Because of your d***?': Australian PM crude remarks caught on hot mic at COP31 climate summit

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'You cannot build peace on a burning planet': Outgoing UN Chief Antonio Guterres calls for urgent climate action in final COP31 address

Australia PM caught on hot mic in crude exchange about genitalia | WATCH