Eight billion people, one humanity; Development milestone ‘proofs’ the power of health and science |
“But as our human family grows larger, it also becomes more divided,” warns Secretary General António Guterres in an editorial written before the crucial moment, citing billions of people struggling, hundreds of millions facing hunger and record numbers fleeing their homes to escape debt, hardship. hardships, wars and climate disasters.
“Unless we bridge the yawning gap between global haves and don’ts, we are setting ourselves up for a world of 8 billion people powerful with tensions and mistrust, crises and conflicts.”
According to the United Nations, the global population took 12 years to grow from 7 to 8 billion, but it will take about 15 years to reach 9 billion, according to the United Nations.
Unequal pressure boosting
He noted that only one A few billionaires control as much wealth as the poorest half of the world while the top one percent pocket a fifth of the world’s income.
Citizens of the richest countries can live up to 30 years longer than the poorest.
Turning to the growing climate crisis and uneven COVID recovery, Mr. Guterres remarked that “as the world has grown richer and healthier in recent decades, so have these inequalities. increase”.
“We are headed straight for a climate disaster, while emissions and temperatures continue to rise. Floods, storms and droughts are devastating countries that contribute almost nothing to global warming.”
Meanwhile, from nuclear disarmament to counter-terrorism and global health, delays and deadlocks on a range of issues are fueling “anger and outrage against developed countries,” Guterres warned.
“We must rein in these damaging trends, repair relationships, and find common solutions to our common challenges.”
Stem ‘runaway inequality’
Reminding that “escape inequality is an option”, the head of the United Nations has encouraged developed countries to use UN climate conference COP27 in Egypt and the G20 summit in Bali next Tuesday, to make a transition.
“I hope COP27 will see a Climate Solidarity Pact whereby developed and emerging economies unite under a common strategy and combine their capabilities and resources for the benefit of humanity,” he said.
“Our only hope” lies in providing key emerging economies with financial and technical support to transition away from fossil fuels, Mr. Guterres said.
He also called on leaders to agree on a roadmap and institutional framework to compensate countries in the global south for climate-related losses and damages that has been causing great suffering.
And he asserted that a stimulus package could be adopted during the G20 meeting to provide those governments with debt relief and restructuring.
