As the world begins planning for a post-pandemic recovery, the United Nations is calling on governments to seize the opportunity to recover better together by creating more sustainable, resilient and inclusive societies. To that end, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has proposed six priority actions to shape the COVID-19 recovery.  
 
In a recent policy brief, COVID19 & Human Rights, the UN emphasized that recovery must also respect the rights of future generations, enhancing climate action aiming at carbon neutrality by 2050 and protecting biodiversity. Further, UN Secretary-General António Guterres remarked in April 2020:  “As we plan our recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, we have a profound opportunity to steer our world on a more sustainable and inclusive path – a path that tackles climate change, protects the environment, reverses biodiversity loss and ensures the long-term health and security of humankind.” 

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On June 5, in honor of World Environment Day, Member State representatives, young climate leaders, United Nations leadership, and civil society partners gathered online for a virtual discussion about recovering better together. The event was co-hosted by the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Team, the United Nations Foundation, Ireland, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, YOUNGO, and The Re-Earth Initiative.

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The Youth Choice: Recovering Better Together report was launched as a follow-up to the virtual event to summarize the global input and recommendation made by young people to shape the green recovery post COVID-19. Read the full report here:  

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