In the press conference that took place through video-call, U.N. Secretary-General Guterres said that the recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic should parallel actions against the existential threat of climate disruption. Emphasizing that “brave and visionary collaborations” are needed to combat both pandemic and climate change, Guterres pointed out that every delayed step in combating climate change will cost lives, cause job losses, and put the economies in hazard.

Secretary General Guterres said, “These are dark days, but they are not without hope. We have a rare and short window of opportunity to rebuild our world for the better. Let us use the pandemic recovery to provide a foundation for a safe, healthy, inclusive, and more resilient world for all people.”

U.N. Secretary-General Guterres responded to the question “whether he has been disappointed by the U.N. Security Council that has not yet made a decision in the fight against the pandemic”:

“Today we know that the relationship between the great powers in the world is very dysfunctional, which makes it difficult for the Security Council to make decisions on the matter of international cooperation, just like in many other areas. We need powerful countries to come together and compromise to fight the pandemic and other security issues we have been facing.”