UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday asked for global action to bring to an end "a senseless and suicidal war on nature" and address climate disruption, biodiversity loss and pollution.

"I want to be clear. Without nature's help, we will not thrive or even survive. For too long, we have been waging a senseless and suicidal war on nature. The result is three interlinked environmental crises: climate disruption, biodiversity loss and pollution that threaten our viability as a species," he told a press conference for the launch of a UN Environment Programme report, "Making Peace with Nature", Xinhua news agency reported. He added, "Human well-being lies in protecting the health of the planet. It's time to re-evaluate and reset our relationship with nature.”

Human beings are overexploiting and degrading the environment on land and sea. The atmosphere and the oceans have become dumping grounds for waste. Governments are still paying more to exploit nature than to protect it. Globally, countries spend some USD4 trillion to $6 trillion a year on subsidies that damage the environment, he noted.

The interlinked climate, biodiversity and pollution crises need urgent action from the whole of society i.e, from governments, but also from international organizations, businesses, cities and individuals, said Guterres.

The report shows that the global economy has grown nearly fivefold in the past five decades, but at a massive cost to the global environment, he said. "The only answer is sustainable development that elevates the well-being of both people and the planet," he said.

UK records additional 12,057 Covid cases, 454 deaths

Over 11K Ebola vaccines expected in Guinea this weekend

Malaysia reports 2,712 new corona cases