Facing our global environmental challenges requires efficient international cooperation

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The following article is an extract from an opinion article by Erik Lundberg published on 4 July 2019 on UN Environment website

The changes we need are huge—time is short

By Erik Lundberg, Finland's Ambassador to Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Seychelles and Permanent Representative to the UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat. 

Our planet and humankind face three unprecedented, mutually reinforcing challenges: climate change, the loss of biodiversity and the overuse of critical natural resources.

In the past year, we have seen intense heatwaves and raging wildfires in Europe, the United States and in Japan cause huge economical loss and damage. In Africa and Asia, tropical cyclones and typhoons killed over a thousand people and devastated the lives of tens of millions more. In East Africa, droughts are getting more severe, the rains more intense. Somalia is at the edge of famine because of the drought.

We are also witnessing extreme loss of life in natural environments. In 2019, more than 27,000 species are threatened with extinction.

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No country, however, can successfully meet these global challenges on their own. We need to work closely together to find comprehensive and effective solutions. We need to increase cooperation, both at the national and the international level. We need to involve civil society, academia, business and governments.

The UN Environment Assembly and the UN Environment Programme can become even stronger and more effective. 

Read full article here

Watch his video message below by clicking on the image.

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