International Mother Earth Day: Guterres calls for increased climate action
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday warned against the continued degradation of the environment, calling for “intensification of climate action and strengthening of the legal arsenal capable of protecting planet Earth.”
Mr. Guterres pointed out in a message published on the UN website that human aggression against nature continues and has not left any trace.
“From the air we breathe, the water we drink, to the soil our food grows in, our health depends on the health of Mother Earth. And yet, we want to destroy it at all costs.
Through our actions, we destroy forests and forests, farmlands, wetlands, oceans, coral reefs, rivers, seas and lakes. Biodiversity is collapsing and a million species are on the verge of extinction,” he lamented.
According to him, the efforts made so far by governments are below the challenges to be faced.
“We have the tools, the knowledge and the solutions. But we need to step up. We need to accelerate climate action, cut emissions very hard and fast, and limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 C. We need a lot in adaptation and resilience, especially for the most vulnerable communities and countries. Invest in those who have contributed the least to this crisis,” he pleaded.
He recalled that the existence of healthy ecosystems, from oceans and rivers to forests and grasslands, is essential to the fight against climate change. Historic UN pledge to ensure 30% of Earth’s land and water is protected by 2030 We will strive to implement the Biodiversity Convention”.
That is why, he observes, “governments must lead the way every step of the way,” stressing that “businesses, companies and civil society must also play an important role.”
International Mother Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970 in the United States. In 1971, the United Nations officially declared April 22 as “Mother Earth Day.”
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