United Nations stated on Tuesday Inequality is at unsustainable levels as the net worth of some 2,500 billionaires increased by over $5.2 billion per day during the pandemic, while four billion are still without any form of basic social protection.
The climate crisis and growing inequality, have become even more dangerous as carbon dioxide concentrations have soared to the highest level in three million years, some “148 per cent above pre-industrial levels”, said Mr. Guterres.
Biodiversity is declining at an “unprecedented and alarming rate”, with one million species risking extinction and 10 million hectares of forests lost annually.
The COVID pandemic has taken four million lives, devastated the global economy, pushed a further 124 million people into extreme poverty and continues to inflict profound suffering – dramatically impacting progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN chief said on Tuesday at a key international forum.
“All the while, conflicts and crises have left one per cent of the world’s population forcibly displaced”, the UN Nations chief said.
The climate crisis and growing inequality, have become even more dangerous
Noting that “we are moving farther away from our goals”, the Secretary-General highlighted that those living in poverty is expected to represent seven per cent by 2030 – only marginally below 2015 levels – while temperature increases have put us “on the verge of the abyss”.
However, he maintained that the situation “can and must” be turned around.
“We have the knowledge, the science, the technology and the resources”, said the UN chief. “What we need is unity of purpose, effective leadership from all sectors, and urgent, ambitious action”.