Faith-based climate organisation commends UN Secretary-General for challenging fossil fuel industry and advancing calls for polluter accountability at COP31.
GreenFaith has joined the Make Polluters Pay International Coalition in honouring United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for his contribution to the global climate movement and his sustained advocacy for climate justice and accountability from the fossil fuel industry.
The recognition was presented on November 13, 2026, during the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, at what was described as Mr. Guterres’ final UN climate negotiations as Secretary-General.
The award acknowledges his consistent calls for governments to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, confront the influence of the industry and ensure that companies responsible for climate destruction contribute towards addressing the resulting damage.
GreenFaith was represented at the presentation by its Global Program Director, Meryne Warah, alongside Harjeet Singh of the Fill the Fund campaign, and David Hillman and Louise Hutchins, convenors of the Make Polluters Pay International Coalition.
Speaking on the recognition, Ms. Warah said climate justice was fundamentally about defending life, human dignity and the future of communities.
She noted that people of faith and frontline communities across the world were increasingly demanding an end to the destruction associated with fossil fuels and insisting that those who had profited from the climate crisis take responsibility.
“Across the world, people of faith and frontline communities are calling for an end to the destruction caused by fossil fuels and for those who have profited from this crisis to take responsibility,” she said.
Ms. Warah commended Mr. Guterres for using his position at the United Nations to challenge the influence of the fossil fuel industry and remind governments that climate action must be rooted in justice.
She described the recognition as an acknowledgement of his contribution to the wider global struggle for climate accountability.
In his address to world leaders at COP31, Mr. Guterres delivered a strong message on the need to move away from fossil fuels, declaring that “fossil fuels must go the way of the dinosaurs”.
He also warned that the lobbying power of the industry was deliberately holding back progress, adding that “the dinosaurs did not have a lobby. But fossil fuels do”.
The UN Secretary-General called on governments to tax windfall profits made by fossil fuel companies and use the revenue to support vulnerable countries recovering from climate-related damage.
According to figures he cited, the world’s nine largest oil companies generated US$95 billion in profits in the last quarter alone, while the Loss and Damage Fund had received approximately US$600 million.
He said the oil companies generated in about 14 hours what the fund had available to help vulnerable countries recover.
“Those who profit most from fossil fuels must help foot the bill for the damage they have caused,” Mr. Guterres said.
Louise Hutchins, Convenor of the Make Polluters Pay International Coalition, said the recognition reflected the Secretary-General’s willingness to use the authority of the United Nations to confront one of the world’s most powerful industries.
She said his statements had strengthened the demands of a global movement seeking to challenge fossil fuel industry influence and secure justice for communities bearing the greatest costs of climate change.
Harjeet Singh, Global Convenor of the Fill the Fund campaign, said communities least responsible for the climate crisis continued to experience its most devastating consequences, including floods, droughts, wildfires, destroyed homes and lost livelihoods.
He described Mr. Guterres’ call for fossil fuel windfall profits to support loss and damage financing as an important recognition that the resources existed, but the political will to make polluters contribute remained inadequate.
The coalition also called for governments to move beyond public commitments and introduce legally binding measures requiring companies responsible for climate pollution to contribute towards addressing the damage.
For GreenFaith, the recognition reinforces the role of faith-based organisations in the global climate justice movement, particularly in advocating for the protection of vulnerable communities, corporate accountability and a fairer response to the climate crisis.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
