International Mother Earth Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the most important of all relationships: the relationship humanity has with nature.
From the air we breathe, to 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 declining; A million species are on the brink of extinction.
We must put an end to these incessant and senseless wars against nature. We have the necessary tools, knowledge and solutions. But we have to pick up the pace.
To limit global temperature rise to 1.5, we need to accelerate climate action and cut emissions deeply and rapidly. °C. We must invest heavily in adaptation and resilience in the most vulnerable communities and countries that have contributed the least to this crisis.
The existence of healthy ecosystems, from oceans and rivers to forests and grasslands, is essential to our fight against climate change. We will strive to implement the historic UN Biodiversity Convention to ensure that 30% of the world’s land and water is protected by 2030.
Governments should lead the way at every step. But companies, organizations and civil society have a vital role to play.
Finally, we must draw inspiration from the long-standing wisdom, knowledge and leadership of indigenous peoples, who have been stewards of the environment for millennia and hold solutions to the global crises of climate and biodiversity.
This Earth Day, I call on citizens everywhere – at school, at work, within their faith communities or on social media – and to demand that governing bodies make peace with nature.
Let us all act at our level to protect our common home, today and for future generations, for the good of humanity and the planet.
The Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Message from Antonio Gutierrez.
