Former United Nations Secretary -General Ban Jiwen: The biggest challenge facing human beings is related to each other.The new crown epidemic has shaken the foundation of global society and tests our ability to cooperate.

The author of this article is the former Secretary -General of the United Nations (UN)

As the Secretary -General of the United Nations, I have a new perspective of looking at the world.In a short period of time, I saw the devastating floods of the Glacier, Thailand and Pakistan, which was melted in the Antarctica, in 2011, and Hurricane Sandy in the United States.In September 2011, I met a little boy in Kiribas Island in the South Pacific. He couldn't sleep at night because he was worried that the rising sea level would destroy his home.

I understand that the biggest challenge facing human beings is interrelated.I see that surviving and gaining new life from the crisis depends on our ability to cooperate in transcending national borders and national interests.And I still understand that our relationship with nature will finally determine our destiny.If we cannot maintain this balance, the most vulnerable group will suffer the most serious damage first.

With the new type of coronary virus pneumonia (COVID-19, the 2019 coronary virus disease) is rapidly spreading globally, these lessons have emerged again to my mind.The connection between the world today is closer than ever, but it is becoming more and more split, and the vision is becoming more and more introverted.The new crown epidemic shakes the foundation of our global society and tests our ability to cooperate.

Today, global leaders are investing unprecedented funds for recovery.Their choices will affect our economy and society in the next decades, and decide whether we can breathe clean air, whether we can create sustainable low -carbon futures, and may even decide whether we can survive as a species.

The current epidemic is very serious, but future challenges will be more severe mdash; mdash; unless we now design a recovery plan to respond to these challenges.Air pollution has significantly exacerbated the impact of the new coronal virus, and because it is related to many other diseases, it directly or indirectly causes 7 million people to die each year.There are many the same roots of air pollution and threatening climate change in our survival.

Similarly, the COVID-19 epidemic shows that when humans face practical and rapidly changing threats, what are likely to do.Due to government blockade measures, air quality has almost improved immediately.Quick response and general public compliance states that if there is an urgent requirement and political authorization in health, we can change our behavior.

We know people want to change.A recent survey conducted by Clean Air Fund commissioned YOUGOV (YOUGOV) showed that at least two -thirds of citizens in different regions (Bulgaria, India, Britain, Nigeria and Poland)Law and law enforcement operations to solve air pollution problems.As the economic weight starts, the return of toxic air will only turn one health crisis into another health crisis.

The government's time to solve these problems is not better. It is better: When they design a bailout plan, they can promote the dependence of fossil fuel in the industry that can promote their rescue.They can give priority to developing green employment, renewable energy and cleaning technology.The returns brought by these measures will be far greater than investment.

In terms of cleaning air, they can also take some specific measures.The leaders of some largest cities in the world (including London and Milan) have re -determined the use of urban centers in order to use more clean energy and technology.They are investing in making this possible infrastructure to encourage us not to drive, walking, cycling, or (from the long run) to take public transportation.With the support of the central governments of various countries, these ideas need to be expanded and copy in other regions.

However, we may miss this obvious opportunity.Governments in the United States and China have canceled environmental restrictions during the new crisis; it is catastrophic to continue to relax or just restore the normal state.

In my motherland South Korea, we are promoting a Green New Deal to seek a new lifestyle after the epidemic.In addition to other goals (such as unequal and poverty) of the United Nations Sustainable Development goals, we also want to solve the problem of climate change and air pollution and put their attention abroad.This is why we are strengthening cooperation with Japan and China to solve the problem of regional air pollution.

But these hopeful first steps are not enough.In July of this year, the Group 20 Group (G20) Treasury Secretary will meet the collective response to the new crown epidemic.On September 7, the United Nations will organize the first International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.People's attention is turning to the 26th UN Climate Conference (COP26) in 2021, which seems to be our last chance.Governments of various countries must seize these opportunities. Based on the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, clean air and climate justice are placed at the core of the recovery plan.

This is not easy, but we can and must do it.The new crown epidemic has caused huge losses, but compared to future challenges, it may just touch the trivial matter of fur.For ourselves and descendants, we have a responsibility to rebuild a better home.

Translator/Liang Yanchang