UN urges protecting planet from 'Heavy Hand' of Humankind

The United Nations Tuesday urged greater efforts to promote sustainable development and use of renewable energy sources, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealing for worldwide changes in attitude and practice to curb the negative impact of human activity on the planet. "From tropical deforestation to depleted ocean fisheries, from growing freshwater shortages to the rapid decline of biodiversity and increasingly polluted skies and seas in many parts of the world, we see the heavy hand of humankind," Ban said in his Earth Day message. As a part of the U.N.'s efforts to promote the importance of respecting and protecting the planet, the General Assembly convened an interactive dialogue on "Harmony with Nature." U.N. agencies, member states, and independent stakeholders discussed in a series of roundtables ways to promote a balanced integration of the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. "The air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil that grows our food are part of a delicate global ecosystem that is increasingly under pressure from human activities. We need a global transformation of attitude and practice. It is especially urgent to address how we generate the energy that drives our progress. That is why world leaders have pledged to reach a global legal climate agreement in 2015," the U.N. chief said.