Speaking at a conference prior to the Biodiversity Summit (COP15), Guterres mentioned some examples of this catastrophe, ranging from deforestation and desertification to environment poisoning by using chemicals and pesticides.

In this regard, the land is being degraded and making it more difficult to feed the world’s growing population, said the UN chief, while pointing to damage to the oceans with an accelerated destruction of coral reefs and other life-supporting marine ecosystems.

Guterres accused multinational corporations of padding their bank accounts while draining the world of its natural gifts, thereby turning ecosystems into profit-making playthings.

“Putting aside the delusional dreams of billionaires, there is no such thing as planet B,” asserted Guterres, who called for challenging relentless concentration of wealth and power of a few that runs counter to nature and the real interests of the majority.

Guterres described humanity as “a mass extinction weapon that treats nature like a toilet and it is on the road to suicide,” in reference to the human cost associated with the loss of nature and biodiversity.

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