Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN. Photo: file.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned this Friday that the planet is facing a triple crisis that threatens the well-being of millions of people, although he urged people not to give up hope.
Speaking on Mother Earth Day, Guterres explained that factors threatening human survival include climate change, loss of nature and biodiversity, and pollution.
“We have shown that together we can face enormous challenges. The right to a healthy environment is gaining support. However, we still have a lot to do. And we need to do it much faster. Above all, to avoid a climate catastrophe,” he explained.
Guterres stressed that “the basic components of a happy and healthy life, clean water, clean air, a stable and predictable climate, are in chaos, jeopardizing the Sustainable Development Goals”.
Highlighting the device’s environmental protection value, the official pointed out that with this power, progress has been made in reducing the ozone hole.
“We have increased the protection of wildlife and ecosystems. We have ended the use of leaded fuel, preventing millions of premature deaths,” said the Secretary-General.
The United Nations has determined that the world has lost a third of its seagrass beds over the past 40 years due to continued pressure from coastal development, declining water quality and climate change.
Likewise, it has been warned that coral reefs are at risk of disappearing worldwide due to rising temperatures and ocean acidification due to climate change at the end of the century.
(Adopted from Telesur)