Nature must be at heart of decision-making: UN body

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - On June 5, World Environment Day, this year, there is need for raising voices for nature-based decision making, the UN Environment said on Friday.

"It’s time to raise our voices and tell our global leaders that we need nature at the heart of decision-making," it said in the statement ahead of World Environment Day, established in 1972 in a UN conference in Stockholm.

The statement, which said the coronavirus outbreak is a result of the destruction of nature, stressed that it is time to reconsider the relationship between people and nature, wildlife.

"Hosted by Colombia, in partnership with Germany, the theme for this year's World Environment Day, on 5 June is biodiversity, 'Time for Nature,' an urgent call to combat accelerating species loss and degradation of our natural world at the hands of human activity," it added.

The statement said celebrations and activities will take place online on June 5, noting that although people have to be physically distanced from each other, they can still stay socially connected.

"The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, all come from nature. We are more reliant on nature’s services than most can ever imagine," it said, adding in this period of coronavirus, nature is telling people "to wake up and take notice."

After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 187 countries and regions. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.

The pandemic has killed more than 272,200 worldwide, with total infections over 3.9 million, while above 1.3 million patients have recovered, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.