United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged the international community to put the health of the planet at the center of plans and policies.
"We must put the health of the planet at the center of all our plans and policies," the UN chief said in his video message to the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), which kicked off virtually Monday.
"The economics are clear. More than half of global Gross Domestic Product depends on nature," said the secretary-general. "Yet our natural capital has declined 40 percent in just over two decades."
That is the reason why the World Economic Forum lists biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse as one of the top five threats humanity will face in the coming 10 years, Guterres explained.
"The urgency for action has never been clearer. This meeting needs to generate a global will for action - a transformation of our relationship with nature," he noted.
The top UN official called on countries to come forward with more ambitious nationally determined contributions, with 2030 targets that are consistent with carbon neutrality by 2050, show how they will reverse species and ecosystem loss with concrete targets and means of implementation, ensure a strong post-2020 framework for the sound management of chemicals and waste and work to prevent the decline of oceans.
"With leadership, determination and commitment to future generations, I am convinced we can provide a healthy planet for all humanity to not just survive, but to thrive," said the secretary-general.
The fifth session of the UNEA, the world's top environmental decision-making body attended by government leaders, businesses, civil society and environmental activists, met virtually on Monday under the theme "Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals." It concludes on Wednesday.
