We must act decisively to protect our planet from both the coronavirus and the existential threat of climate disruption.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which will officially launch with World Environment Day 2021 (5 June), will help us stop, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and every ocean. But we will only succeed if everyone plays a part.
Let’s remind more than ever in this International Mother Earth Day that we need a shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. Let’s promote harmony with nature and the Earth. Join the global movement to restore our world!
Are we really taking care of the Earth?
Discover the facts related to our progress on climate action. Let’s not miss the opportunity to limit global warming!
The importance of biodiversity for humans
Coronavirus outbreak poses huge public health and global economy at risk, but biological diversity as well. However, biodiversity can be part of the solution since this diversity of species would make difficult to pathogens to spread rapidly.
There is growing concern about the health consequences of biodiversity loss and change. Biodiversity changes affect ecosystem functioning and significant disruptions of ecosystems can result in life sustaining ecosystem goods and services.
Specific linkages between health and biodiversity include impact in nutrition, health research or traditional medicine, new infectious diseases and influencing shifts in the distribution of plants, pathogens, animals, and even human settlements, most of them affected by climate change.
Despite ongoing efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide at rates unprecedented in human history. It is estimated that around one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction.
With this big picture, and the coronavirus scenario, our immediate priority is to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but in long-term, it is important to tackle habitat and biodiversity loss.
We are in this fight together with our Mother Earth.
Did you know?
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The planet is losing 4.7 million hectares of forests every year – an area larger than Denmark.
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A healthy ecosystem helps to protect us from these diseases. Biological diversity makes it difficult for pathogens to spread rapidly.
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It is estimated that around one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction.
*SOURCE: United Nations. Go to ORIGINAL.
Related:
- Harmony with Nature
- UN Climate Action
- UN Climate Change
- UN Environment programme
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Convention to Combat Desertification
- FAO
- UNESCO
- WHO – Biodiversity and health
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First, it was ebola. Now, infectious diseases such as COVID-19 are a major concern for great ape conservation. We do not yet know whether great apes are susceptible to the SARS CoV-2 virus, but preventive measures must be taken, like limiting the tourism related to these species. Let’s fight to keep our biodiversity.
ActNow is the United Nations’ global call to individual actions. Even a small gesture can help fight climate change and accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Download the app to follow through with your actions or use the help of our Chatbot. There are more than 2 million actions registered!
Baher Kamal
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