'We must put out the fire first': Ban Ki-moon warns human rights rows must not derail climate action

Michael Holder
clock • 6 min read
Ban Ki-moon served as UN Secretary General from 2007-2016
Image:

Ban Ki-moon served as UN Secretary General from 2007-2016

Climate crisis should take diplomatic priority even where there may be fraught geopolitical tensions over challenging issues such as human rights, former UN Secretary-General suggests

World leaders should not allow wider geopolitical tensions over alleged human rights violations to derail efforts to combat the climate crisis, according to former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, who...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Michael Holder
Author spotlight

Michael Holder

Environmental journalist and editor

View profile
More from Michael Holder

Study: Electricity bills rising 'much more slowly' than gas due to UK's clean power drive

'Sleeping giant': Poll highlights nature protection as growing concern for voters

More on Climate change

Global Briefing: Climate-impacted flash floods a 'warning to world', says Nepal's PM
Climate change

Global Briefing: Climate-impacted flash floods a 'warning to world', says Nepal's PM

Leader warns of 'colossal' climate price being paid by smaller nations, High Seas Treaty passes 100 ratifications, and Australia's opposition leader claims COP31 co-host has 'done its bit' on climate

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 25 September 2026 • 12 min read
UN Secretary General: Fossil fuel expansion 'defies science, economics and common sense'
Climate change

UN Secretary General: Fossil fuel expansion 'defies science, economics and common sense'

Antonio Guterres reiterates call for all countries to develop national roadmaps for phasing out coal, oil, and gas, as he launched a series of new climate initiatives at UN event in New York

Michael Holder
Michael Holder
clock 23 September 2026 • 6 min read
Global electronics industry warns of 'substantial operational risk' from extreme heat
Climate change

Global electronics industry warns of 'substantial operational risk' from extreme heat

Global Electronics Association survey reveals significant proportion of manufacturers have been negatively impacted by extreme heat this year, as new World Economic Forum guidance urges companies to respond to worsening heat risks

Michael Holder
Michael Holder
clock 23 September 2026 • 4 min read