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There is only one Earth – and it needs to be protected, now.

That was the message from scientists, policymakers, and everyday people on Sunday as millions observed World Environment Day 2022. The event featured several major policy announcements, including a pledge from Sweden to limit the extraction of coal, oil, and natural gas.

But it also came with a warning that human-induced climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste were pushing the planet to the breaking point. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his World Environment Day message, called for a unified global effort to halt environmental degradation.

“We know what to do. And, increasingly, we have the tools to do it,” he said. “But we still lack leadership and cooperation. So today, I appeal to leaders in all sectors: lead us out of this mess.”

This was echoed by Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), speaking at a World Environment Day event in Stockholm, Sweden. “The science has told us we have to end fossil fuels. We have to restore nature to its full glory. We have to transform our food systems. We have to make our cities green.”