In his year-end message, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “2020 has been a year of trials, tragedies and tears,” and made an appeal for making 2021 “a year of healing.”
In a recorded message issued today (28 Dec), the Secretary-General said, “COVID-19 upended our lives and plunged the world into suffering and grief. So many loved ones have been lost — and the pandemic rages on, creating new waves of sickness and death. Poverty, inequality and hunger are rising. Jobs are disappearing and debts are mounting. Children are struggling. Violence in the home is increasing, and insecurity is everywhere.”
Guterres said, “a New Year lies ahead. And with it, we see rays of hope: people extending a helping hand to neighbours and strangers; frontline workers giving their all; scientists developing vaccines in record time; countries making new commitments to prevent climate catastrophe. If we work together in unity and solidarity, these rays of hope can reach around the world.”
He said, “both climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are crises that can only be addressed by everyone together – as part of a transition to an inclusive and sustainable future. The central ambition of the United Nations for 2021 is to build a global coalition for carbon neutrality - net zero emissions - by 2050. Every government, city, business and individual can play a part in achieving this vision.”
Together, the Secretary-General said, “let’s make peace among ourselves and with nature, tackle the climate crisis, stop the spread of COVID-19.
UN
