United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres hopes recent devastating hurricanes in the Caribbean and southern United States will convince climate change sceptics like US President Donald Trump that global warming is a "major threat".
Guterres, who will visit the Caribbean islands of Antigua, Barbuda and Dominica this weekend to see damage from last month's hurricanes Irma and Maria, said the world must be more determined in pushing for "a clean, sustainable energy future".
"I have not yet lost my hope that what is happening will be making those that are still skeptical about climate change to be more and more realising that this, indeed, is a major threat for the international community at the present moment," he said on Wednesday.
Trump has called climate change a hoax and announced in June that the US would withdraw for a landmark Paris climate deal, which seeks to curb global emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that scientists believe drive global warming.
Trump visited the US territory of Puerto Rico to survey the damage from Hurricane Maria. He also visited the southern US states of Texas and Louisiana in September in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and Florida after Hurricane Irma.
"It is rare to see so many storms of such strength so early in the season," Guterres told reporters. "Scientific models have long predicted an increase in the number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes. This is precisely what is happening - and even sooner than expected."
The secretary-general said innovative financing mechanisms would be crucial in helping countries, such as those in the Caribbean, cope with such significant external shocks.
The United Nations and partners have so far sent to the Caribbean region: 18 tons of food; 3 million water purification tablets; 3000 water tanks; 2500 tents; 2000 mosquito nets and school kits; 500 debit cards for cash assistance.
Guterres said an appeal has been launched for nearly $US114 million ($A145 million) to cover humanitarian needs, but that the response has been poor.
