Antonio Guterres calls for new path of people living in harmony with nature
July 20, 2022, 3:50 pm

Antonio Guterres calls for new path of people living in harmony with nature

Guterres said that with nature and its benefits deteriorating worldwide, "we face a triple crisis of climate disruption, biodiversity loss and pollution.” - Photo. Pixabay

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday (July 19) that it is time for humanity to chart a new path of living in harmony with nature. He urged the international community to match commitments with actions.

The UN chief made the remarks in a video message to a high-level thematic debate of the General Assembly entitled "Moment for Nature".

Guterres said that with nature and its benefits deteriorating worldwide, "we face a triple crisis of climate disruption, biodiversity loss and pollution.”

One million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction, threatening the livelihood of millions, he said.

Three-quarters of the land and two-thirds of the ocean are adversely impacted by human activity. Some 3.2 billion people are affected by land degradation, he dded.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres giving a speech. (AFP)

"Since human activities are at the root of this planetary emergency, that means we also hold the key to the solutions," he said. "Now is the time to transform our relationship with nature and chart a new path."

Key milestones lie ahead this year "where we can and must deliver," Guterres said, referring to the COP 27 climate conference and second phase of the COP 15 biodiversity conference, scheduled to be held later this year in Egypt and Canada respectively.

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He urged the international community to make commitments and reach bold, global consensus at the conferences, with aims of cutting emissions, tackling key drivers of biodiversity loss and closing the finance gap.

He also cautioned against empty promises, noting that "we need to match commitments with credible and verifiable actions and the finance for implementation," adding that "Together, we can and must steer humanity to the path of living in harmony with the planet.”

Source: xinhua

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”