UN Secretary-General António Guterres today delivered a message on the occasion of International Mother Earth Day.
“As we mark International Mother Earth Day, our planet is at a tipping point.
“Humanity continues to abuse the natural world.
“We heedlessly plunder the Earth’s resources, deplete its wildlife and treat air, land and seas as dumping grounds.
“Crucial ecosystems and food chains are being pushed to the brink of collapse.
“This is suicidal.
“We must end our war on nature and nurse it back to health.
“That means bold climate action to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius and adapt to the changes to come.
“It means stronger steps to protect biodiversity.
“And it means reducing pollution by building circular economies that drive down waste.
“These steps will safeguard our only home and create millions of new jobs.
“Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is a chance to set the world on a cleaner, greener, more sustainable path.
“On International Mother Earth Day, let us all commit to the hard work of restoring our planet and making peace with nature.”
International Mother Earth Day was established in 2009, by the United Nations General Assembly under Resolution A/RES/63/278. The Resolution was introduced by The Plurinational State of Bolivia and endorsed by over 50 member states. It recognizes that "the Earth and its ecosystems are our home" and that "it is necessary to promote harmony with nature and the Earth." The term Mother Earth is used because it "reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit". It is decided to designate April 22 as International Mother Earth Day.
