Guterres: Our planet is on the brink, nations must unite on climate action

Antonio Guterres, United Nations secretary-general, has called on countries to come together to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Guterres spoke during the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Nairobi, Kenya.

The UN secretary general warned that the planet is “on the brink and imploding”, adding that those least responsible are the ones who suffer most.

He urged nations to unite on climate action, address plastic pollution, and deliver multilateral solutions to the environmental crisis.

“Your efforts are urgent. Our planet is on the brink, ecosystems are collapsing, our climate is imploding and humanity is to blame,” he said.

“The fallout from poisoned rivers to rising seas are appalled yet those least responsible suffer the most burning injustice.

“We must work together to combat this crisis to put the world on a sustainable path and sustainable development.

“That means taking urgent action to accelerate a just transition from fossil fuels to renewables to adapt to extreme weather, deliver climate justice, get a grip on pollution, protect and restore ecosystems.

“Countries must set national targets to deliver that framework. They must capitalize the new loss and damage funds, they must create nationally determined contributions by 2025 that align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“Together we need governments to deliver a new treaty on plastic pollution and increase financing for sustainable development, climate action and biodiversity in developing countries.

“I urge countries to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This assembly plays a vital role in driving environmental action and you have shown before that you can unite and deliver. I urge you to do so again and go further.”

UNEA-6 brings government representatives, civil society and the private sector together from February 26 to March 1.

At this year’s session, countries are expected to consider resolutions covering challenges such as halting desertification, combating air pollution and reducing chemical pollution.