“Our Power, Our Planet” Message from the Secretary‑General on International Mother Earth Day 2026

Mother Earth has given us everything.  We have repaid her with reckless destruction – polluting her air, poisoning her waters, destabilizing her climate, and pushing countless species to the brink. 

She is sounding the alarm – through fire, flood, drought, deadly heat and rising sea levels. Yet our response is falling dangerously short.

We have the solutions. In most of the world, renewable energy is now the cheapest source of electricity. Climate action is creating jobs, strengthening economies, and saving lives. But we are moving too slowly. We must break our dependence on fossil fuels, protect and restore nature at scale, and deliver climate justice for those who did least to cause this crisis yet suffer the most.

Around the world, young activists, Indigenous Peoples, scientists, and civil society are already leading the way. Their power is our power. Governments and business must match that courage with urgent action – for our planet, for all who depend on her, and for every generation to come.

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