Yerevan:United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent and effective international action to address environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. He delivered this message at the Leaders' Summit in the Armenian capital on Friday.
According to Emirates News Agency, Guterres urged governments to increase investment in solutions that protect ecosystems while also strengthening the involvement of the private sector and local communities. His appeal comes as a prelude to the 17th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP17).
Guterres highlighted the threat humanity's continued destruction of nature poses to the future of life on Earth, with over one million species at risk of extinction. He pointed out that climate disruption, overgrazing, and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides are contributing to pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change, pushing the planet toward becoming uninhabitable.
He noted the imbalance in spending, with US$30 spent on damaging activities for every dollar invested in protecting nature. In 2023, US$7.3 trillion was funneled into industries harmful to the environment. Guterres emphasized that to meet global biodiversity, climate, and land restoration goals, annual investment in nature-based solutions would need to reach US$571 billion by 2030, which is about 0.5 percent of global GDP.
Furthermore, he warned that even with current commitments, only 26 percent of terrestrial ecosystems and 12 percent of marine ecosystems would be protected by 2030, which is far below the global target of conserving 30 percent of the world's land and sea.
