UN climate chief warns climate culture war could trigger 'economic disaster'

UPDATE - follow-up to 'UN climate chief warns climate culture war could trigger 'economic disaster':' UN climate chief Simon Stiell has sounded the alarm on the dangers of politicising climate action, warning that attempts to turn climate action into a culture-war issue must be rejected or the world risks facing an economic disaster. This summer's extreme heat has killed tens of thousands of people in Europe alone and caused an estimated €180 billion (£155 billion) in economic damage, Stiell told a committee of the European Parliament on Thursday. The climate crisis has become a continent-wide economic security emergency, with mass evacuations, power station closures, and trade routes being choked. Crops are being lost, yields are down, and food prices are set to rise further. Stiell rejected arguments that stronger climate action would worsen other social and economic problems, saying that to be soft on climate action is to be soft on inflation, the cost of living, sovereignty, security, and economic growth and jobs. The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that August 2026 was the hottest August ever recorded globally, with global temperatures 1.65C above pre-industrial levels. Scientists warn that climate change is making the effects of El Niño more severe, and the latest forecast suggests it could be the most intense on record. Stiell's comments come as populist parties in the European Union and elsewhere call for a rollback of policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.