Janet Ogundepo The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has issued a call to action to protect the Earth’s vital ecosystems from rampant pollution, worsening climate impacts, and the decimation of biodiversity. In a message marking World Environment Day, Guterres emphasised the urgency for countries to fulfil their commitments to restore degraded ecosystems and land, in line with the global agreement to protect biodiversity known as the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. According to the UN, World Environment Day has been held annually since 1973 and has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach ever.
This year’s theme is “land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.” Guterres stated that countries must use their national climate action plans to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, significantly increasing financial support for developing nations to adapt to extreme weather, protect nature, and support sustainable development. The UN chief said, “Every dollar invested in ecosystem restoration creates up to thirty dollars in economic benefits.
” He noted that the failure to curb runaway pollution, climate chaos and biodiversity destruction is evident, stating that healthy, fertile lands are transforming into deserts, thriving ecosystems into dead zones and rising carbon dioxide emissions. “That means crops failing, water sources vanishing, economies weakened, and communities endangered – with the po.
