World leaders must "stop slacking off and start doing" on cutting carbon emissions as rapidly rising temperatures this year put everyone on the front lines of disaster, the UN's top climate official has warned. No country can think itself immune to disaster, said Simon Stiell, who will oversee the key climate summit Cop28 , which starts next week. A number of world leaders will arrive in Dubai for tense talks on how to deal with the crisis. "We are used to talking about protecting people on distant front lines. We're now at a point where we're all on the front lines," said Stiell, who spoke exclusively to the Guardian ahead of the summit. "However, most governments still walk when they need to sprint." Global temperatures have broken new records in recent months, making this year the hottest on record and dangerously close to the 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels that countries have pledged to adhere to. Temperatures now they are headed for a "hell" rise of 3°C , unless urgent and drastic measures are taken, but greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow . (Fiona Harvey)