Posted in: 03/19/2021
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched in February (2021) the report “Making Peace with Nature – A scientific blueprint to tackle the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergencies“, one of the most incisive studies in relation to environmental emergencies ever published by the organization.
It is important to highlight that this report brought, differently from the usual ones released by the UN, in addition to the diagnosis of current changes and projections for the environmental future, guidelines on what actions governments, public and private institutions, and the whole society can take to prevent environmental degradation.
To this end, the study was based on measures to address the three main environmental crises, which concern climate emergencies, loss of biodiversity, and excessive pollution.
According to the report, addressing the “triple emergency” is the most appropriate way to avoid new pandemics and achieve the goals proposed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
During the presentation ceremony of the study results, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned about the “senseless and suicidal war” that humans are waging against nature and that generates serious consequences for our own species, in addition to threatening all forms of life on Earth.
The economy grew almost five times as much.
Trade reached ten times more growth.
Human population doubled to 7.8 billion people. Still, 1.3 billion of them are considered poor and 700 million go hungry.
Solutions (from 2020 on)
Sustainable economy and financial systems.
Healthy and nutritious food.
Clean water and energy.
Healthy lives and well-being for all people in safe cities and settlements.
Greenhouse gas emissions have doubled.
Chemical production, waste, and pollution have increased.
Solutions (2020 onwards)
Zero net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050.
Proper management of chemicals, waste, and pollution.
Earth is heading for more than 3°C of global warming this century.
Resource use has tripled.
Humans have already impacted 3/4 of ice-free land and 2/3 of oceans.
Solutions (from 2020 on)
Recycling and preservation of resources.
Protection and sustainable use of land and oceans.
Source: Report “Making Peace with Nature: A Science Plan for Addressing Climate, Biodiversity and Pollution Emergencies” (UNEP, 2021).
To understand the three environmental crises highlighted by the UN:
UN report details plan to solve planetary emergencies
Making Peace with Nature’: UN report outlines ways to solve triple planetary emergency
UNEP Executive Director warns of climate emergency and model for sustainable future
Human Destruction of Nature is suicidal, UN warns
Humanity is waging a suicidal war against the environment, says UN Secretary
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