Overconsumption created three-fold planetary emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, says UN chief

Mr. Guterres jointly launched Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said overconsumption has resulted in a three-fold planetary emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and called for the need to treat the earth's resources judiciously and respectfully.

Mr. Guterres, who jointly launched Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, lamented that in the current times, greed was prevailing over need, and urged people to adopt a sustainable way of living.

"In this perilous time, we need all hands on deck. There is no greater challenge than climate change. Overconsumption has resulted in a three-fold planetary emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution," he said.

"We are using the equivalent of 1.6 planet earths to maintain our lifestyles. That great access is compounded by great inequality. The combined greenhouse gas emission of the richest one per cent is more than twice of the poorest 50 per cent," he said.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Guterres said, "The world has enough for everyone's needs but not everyone's greed...Unfortunately in recent times, greed is prevailing over need and we need to reverse it."

"Each one of us has to learn to live sustainably and reduce our environmental footprint," he said.

He expressed hope that the initiatives of the LiFE movement spread throughout the world.