Climate change: World mustn't forget 'deeper emergency'

[Rhiannon12866]

Despite the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the world mustn't forget the "deeper environmental emergency" facing the planet.

That's the view of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in remarks released to celebrate Earth Day.

The toll taken by the virus is both "immediate and dreadful", Mr Guterres says.

But the crisis is also a wake-up call, "to do things right for the future," said the Secretary General.

Mr Guterres re-iterated his view that the coronavirus is the biggest challenge the world has faced since the Second World War.

But as the world commemorates the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the planet's "unfolding environmental crisis" is an "even deeper emergency", he says.

"Biodiversity is in steep decline," Mr Guterres stated.

"Climate disruption is approaching a point of no return.

"We must act decisively to protect our planet from both the coronavirus and the existential threat of climate disruption."

A long-term advocate of strong action to tackle global heating, Mr Guterres is now proposing six climate-related actions that should shape the recovery after the virus.

The world has to deliver new jobs and businesses through a "clean, green transition".

Taxpayers' money, when it is used, "needs to be tied to achieving green jobs and sustainable growth".

Money must be used to make people and societies more resilient to climate change, he says.

"Public funds should be used to invest in the future not the past."

Fossil fuel subsidies from governments is a theme that Mr Guterres has highlighted many times. These must end he says, and polluters must pay for their pollution.

The world will need to work together, says the Secretary General, and climate risks will need to be factored into the financial system and be at the heart of all public policy.


Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52370221



The drought hitting central Chile is making the problems of coping with Covid-19 worse

[diva77]

1. K&R

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. We really need to stop propping up fossil fuels with public money.

[SheltieLover]

3. This!👆

Absolutely!

[Rhiannon12866]

4. And the positive environmental effects of less human activity could have unintended consequences:

Emissions Are Way Down. No, That's Not All Good News for the Environment.
Chaos in the oil sector could actually intensify climate change.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1127137336

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. Thanks for the link.

We should put saving the world above saving the oil companies.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. But if the oil companies go bankrupt, that could have unintended consequences on the environment

That's why the lack of travel and the drop in oil prices is not all good news, it could have negative consequences.

[SheltieLover]

5. TY for posting!

[Rhiannon12866]

6. You're very welcome!

The environmental impact of the decrease in human activity is something that we really need to pay attention to right now - especially during Earth Day week!

[SheltieLover]

7. Yes & ongoimg

Nature is speaking, yet greedy fools wont' see or hear. Yet.

[thesquanderer]

10. Now we have to hope to live through Covid19 so we can be killed by climate change. (n/t)