UN chief urges countries to use pandemic to ‘rebuild our world for the better’

BERLIN — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres challenges leaders to use the coronavirus pandemic to “rebuild our world for the better” by also working together to tackle other global threats such as climate change.

The outbreak has resulted in at least 200,000 deaths globally and widespread economic hardship as countries impose lockdowns to prevent the spread of the virus.

“It has exposed the fragility of our societies and economies to shocks,” the United Nations chief says, adding that “the only answer is brave, visionary and collaborative leadership.”

“The same leadership is needed to address the looming existential threat of climate disruption,” says Guterres, noting that the past decade was the hottest in history since measurements began.

Speaking by video link at a two-day international conference on global warming, Guterres warns that the cost of inaction on climate change would be immense, but says that “technology is on our side.”

“These are dark days, but they are not without hope,” Guterres says. “We have a rare and short window of opportunity to rebuild our world for the better.”

“Let us use the pandemic recovery to provide a foundation for a safe, healthy, inclusive and more resilient world for all people,” he adds.

The UN chief calls on all countries to commit to pumping no more carbon dioxide — the main greenhouse gas — into the atmosphere by 2050, and proposes a six-point plan to ensure climate change features prominently in government efforts to recover from the pandemic.

— AP