Addressing world leaders present at the COP27 climate summit held this year in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, UN Secretary General António Guterres said that humanity is in the midst of an existential struggle – and stands to lose.

“We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator. Humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish,” Guterres told world leaders on Monday:

“It is either a climate solidarity pact or a collective suicide pact,” the UN chief said, adding that rich nations should help poorer countries bearing least responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions

French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier on Monday that the US and China must pay more to aid disadvantaged nations hit hardest by climate change.

Summit delegates agreed over the weekend that the summit will address questions of if and how rich countries should compensate poorer nations most vulnerable to climate change.

Last year’s summit, COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, saw rich nations block proposals to pay poorer countries climate compensation.

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