Marshall Islands president warns climate overshoot could erase islands at Cop31

The Guardian reported that at the Cop31 climate summit in Turkey, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine warned that failing to mount an overwhelming response to the climate crisis means “the world we know is over”. Heine told fellow heads of state that exceeding the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement would allow waves to eat away at shorelines and trigger floods that could destroy towns, schools and hospitals across her nation. She described the situation as a worsening flood risk for the Pacific islands. The summit also saw the UN chief call for a windfall tax on oil and gas firms, adding pressure on governments to finance stronger climate action. Heine’s remarks underscored the urgency felt by vulnerable island states as they plead for decisive measures to keep global warming within safe limits.

Why it matters

The warning highlights the immediate danger that climate overshoot poses to low‑lying nations and adds pressure on world leaders to accelerate mitigation efforts.

Key details

Location

France · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

12 Nov 2026, 00:22 IST

Key names

Cop, Marshall Islands, UN, Failure

Section

Environment

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The Guardian‘The world we know is over’ without urgent climate action, leaders tell Cop31 12 Nov, 00:22

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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