UN calls for stronger commitment to sustainable development on Earth Day
(VOVWORLD) -Burning fossil fuels is the main cause of global warming, which is driving deadly wildfires, floods, and extreme heat – costing lives and destroying livelihoods, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said as the world observes Earth Day, also called International Mother Earth Day, on April 22.
According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2024 was the first year in which global temperature exceeded the pre-industrial (1850-1900) average by 1.5°C.
Global average sea level has risen 21 to 24 centimeters since 1880. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause 250,000 deaths per year, according the World Health Organization.