UN Secretary General: Making Peace With Nature The Most Important Task Of The 21st Century

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres during a speech related to "The Situation of Our Planet" at Columbia University, New York, United States, Wednesday 2 December (Aria Cindyara / Antara)

JAKARTA - The Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres said that making peace with nature is the most important task to do in the 21st century, in a speech related to "The Situation of Our Planet".

Reported by Antara, Thursday, December 3, in a speech delivered by Columbia University in New York City, United States, on Wednesday evening Jakarta time, Guterres reminded that humanity is currently at war against nature, something he called "like killing oneself."

"Nature has always fought back for what we have done to it so far, and we are dealing with this harsh counterattack," said Guterres.

The impact of the destruction on the earth hinders efforts to eradicate poverty and threatens food security. This situation then complicates efforts to create peace, because according to him, the various disturbances caused by natural destruction lead to instability, displacement and conflict.

"The impact is most severe on the most vulnerable around the world," he stressed.

He also mentioned that the momentum of recovery from the current COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to resolve natural decline that is rooted in human activities.

“Making peace with nature is an important task in the 21st century. This must be everyone's top priority, wherever we are. "

Broadly speaking, he explained three important points that need attention in efforts to deal with the climate crisis, the first is the importance of achieving carbon neutrality globally, especially in the next three decades.

The second is to align global finance behind the Paris Agreement, as the world's blueprint for climate action. Lastly is the need to create adaptation breakthroughs to protect the world and its people and countries most vulnerable to climate impacts.

“We already have a blueprint: the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement on climate change. The door is open, the solution is there, "said Guterres.

At the end of his speech, the Secretary General of the United Nations voiced optimism over progress in efforts to make natural remedies possible, including by saving the ozone layer, expanding protected areas, the emergence of green cities, a circular economy that reduces waste, and growing environmental regulations.

In addition, he also highlighted the shift in mindset, with many people understanding the need for each other's daily choices to reduce their carbon footprint as well as the wave of social mobilization being carried out by the younger generation.

"This is a crucial moment for humans and the planet," said Guterres.