'Covid A Wake-Up Call, We're Oversleeping': UN Secretary-General Calls For Action Against Pandemic & Climate Change

"Covid-19 is a wake-up call, and we are oversleeping," Guterres was quoted during a press conference by AFP in its report.

Antonio Guterres. (Image/AP)

New Delhi: The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the world is moving in the wrong direction and urged nations to take immediate actions to fight the covid-19 pandemic along with climate changes.

"Covid-19 is a wake-up call, and we are oversleeping," Guterres said during a press conference, as quoted by news agency AFP.

According to the AFP report, Guterres further expressed his regret towards the covid-19 vaccine producing nations as they are not able to speed up their manufacturing process to achieve the goal of vaccinating 70% of the world population by the first half of 2022.

"The pandemic has demonstrated our collective failure to come together and make joint decisions for the common good, even in the face of an immediate, life-threatening global emergency," Guterres said.

The UN Chief dismissed the calls to postpone the UN climate summit, called COP26, which is scheduled to be held in November 2021 in Scotland. In view of the vaccine inequality, covid-19 pandemic, and logistical issues, the climate activists have asked to delay the summit.

While stressing the urgency to address the issue, the UN Chief refused to postpone the summit any further than the due date. He further exhorted the US and China to do more to fight climate change.

"We need a stronger engagement of the US, namely in financing for development, for climate-related development issues, mitigation, adaptation, and we need an additional effort from China in relation to emissions," Guterres further added.

(With inputs from AFP)