UN Secretary-General António Guterres has accused oil and gas companies of making outrageous profits in light of the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, calling the profits “immoral”.
After announcing the publication of a UN report on the consequences of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, Guterres called on governments to tax the profits of energy companies.
“It is unethical for oil and gas companies to take record profits from this energy crisis at the expense of the poorest people and communities and at the cost of enormous climate damage,” the UN Secretary-General told reporters.
“I call on all governments to tax this excess profit and use the money to support the most vulnerable during these difficult times,” he added.
“I also urge people around the world to make clear to the fossil fuel industry and its financiers that this terrible greed is punishing the poorest and most vulnerable while our common home is destroying the planet.”
Guterres noted that the combined profits of large energy companies in the first quarter of the year amounted to almost $100 billion.
With rising oil and gas prices, BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell made huge profits in the second quarter.
The Secretary General has warned that from now until the end of the year, 345 million people will experience “severe food insecurity” or “food insecurity” in 82 countries, an increase of 47 million due to the impact of the Ukraine crisis. .
Guterres noted that “many developing countries are mired in debt, unable to access financing and are struggling to recover from the Covid pandemic.”
“We are already seeing troubling signs of a wave of economic, social and political upheaval from which no country is immune,” he stressed.
Source: AFP.