TASHKENT, January 7. /Dunyo IA/.  The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has warned humanity that it is rapidly approaching an “environmental point of no return”, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing “UN News”.

The report “Global Environment Outlook - Seventh Edition: The Future We Choose” notes that environmental degradation is already threatening human health, the resilience of economies, and the future of the planet. At the same time, it emphasizes that the worst-case scenario can still be avoided if decisive action is taken.

UNEP calls for the transformation of five interconnected systems: the economic and financial system, the energy system, the food system, the system for materials and waste management, and environmental governance.

According to experts’ estimates, by 2050 such reforms could prevent up to nine million premature deaths, lift 100 million people out of poverty, and reduce undernourishment for 200 million people. By the end of the century, these measures could generate up to $100 trillion in annual economic benefits.

“Transforming these five systems will require whole-of-government and whole-of-society efforts on a scale the world has never seen before, but this is absolutely necessary if we want to build a more just and sustainable planet”, said Maarten Kappelle, Chief of Service in UNEP's Office of Science.

The UNEP report urges moving away from a narrow focus on GDP and taking into account the true value of natural capital so that economic decisions benefit the environment as well. It proposes reallocating about $1.5 trillion in annual subsidies that harm nature, developing a circular economy, investing in environmentally friendly technologies and placing full responsibility on businesses for environmental damage.

Special emphasis is placed on accelerating the development of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, creating sustainable food systems and protecting ecosystems amid the “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

The report stresses that maintaining the current development model will lead to severe consequences. Without urgent action, global warming is expected to exceed 1.5°C already in the 2030s, and by mid-century could significantly reduce global GDP. UNEP concludes that only a comprehensive and coordinated transition to sustainable development can prevent the worst scenarios and safeguard humanity’s future.