The Secretary General called on the countries of the world to fulfill their obligations to restore degraded ecosystems and lands. UN chief: the current generation must become the “generation of restoration” Climate and Environment
The current generation of the Earth’s inhabitants must become a “generation of restoration.” The UN Secretary-General stated this in his message dedicated to World Environment Day.
The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is “Land restoration, combating desertification and drought resilience.”
“Humanity depends on the land, but around the world, a detrimental combination of pollution, climate chaos and biodiversity loss is turning healthy lands into deserts and thriving ecosystems into dead zones, Guterres said in his message. –Forests and pastures are being destroyed, the forces of the earth necessary for the functioning of ecosystems, agriculture and communities are being depleted.”
All this, the UN Secretary General continued, means the loss of crops, disappearance of water sources, weakening of the economy and danger to the population, especially to the poorest sections of the population. The sustainable development of humanity is under threat.
“We are caught in a deadly vicious circle,” the message says. – Land use accounts for 11 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions that warm our planet. It’s time to break out of this cycle.”
The Secretary-General called on countries around the world to fulfill their commitments to restore degraded ecosystems and lands, as well as all provisions of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework biodiversity programs. They should set out how they will halt and reverse deforestation by 2030 in their new national climate action plans, António Guterres has said. In addition, he said, there is a need to dramatically increase the amount of financial assistance provided to developing countries to adapt to extreme weather events, protect nature and ensure sustainable development.
“Inaction is too costly,” António Guterres emphasized in his message. –Every dollar invested in ecosystem restoration generates up to $30 in economic benefits. Let’s work together to build a sustainable future for the land and all humanity!”