New York: Europe and the Arabs
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for working together to make 2025 "the year we restore good health to Mother Earth," after the planet experienced its hottest year on record, which "marked the peak of an unprecedented decade." According to the UN Daily News, a copy of which we received this Wednesday morning, in his message on International Mother Earth Day, Mr. Guterres said that Mother Earth "is suffering from a fever," and the cause of her illness is the greenhouse gas emissions "that humanity is pumping into the atmosphere—the vast majority of which come from burning fossil fuels."
He said that the symptoms of the disease are manifesting in devastating wildfires, floods, soaring temperatures, loss of life, and shattered livelihoods.
The Secretary-General emphasized that the cure for Mother Earth's fever is possible by accelerating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating adaptation (to climate change), "to protect ourselves—and nature—from climate disasters." He stressed that no one will lose out on the road to recovery, as renewable energy is cheaper, safer, and more health-protective than alternative fossil fuels, and that adaptation is "crucial to creating strong economies and safer societies, now and in the future."

Mr. Guterres said that this year is "a year of decision," as all countries must develop new national climate action plans consistent with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius—"essential to avoiding the worst climate catastrophe."

He said in his message: "This is a vital opportunity to reap the benefits of clean energy, and I urge all countries to seize it, with the G20 leading the way. We also need to take action to tackle pollution, reduce biodiversity loss, and provide the financing countries need to protect our planet."

It is worth noting that the Secretary-General, along with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will convene a closed virtual meeting this week for a group of heads of state and government to discuss strengthening global efforts to address the climate crisis and accelerate a just energy transition. This is part of the two leaders' joint strategy in preparation for the UN Climate Conference (COP-30), which will be held in Brazil in November.