United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the world relies on the European Union to take the lead in combating climate change and containing global warming. Prior to a meeting with European Union leaders, Guterres said: "We heavily rely on the European Union to lead the necessary transformations so we can get the 2030 agenda back on track." He noted that "we are close to a critical point and require substantial action," adding: "We rely on the European Union to take the lead in this regard."