There is never a humanitarian solution for a humanitarian crisis. The solutions for the humanitarian crisis are always political ones.
Antonio GuterresRead
As populations continue to increase, and the climate continues to deteriorate, and as people flock in ever increasing numbers to large, underdeveloped cities, the threat of multiple protracted mega-emergencies has become reality.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the challenges posed by population growth and climate change in urban areas.
Antonio Guterres warns about the escalating crises resulting from rapid urbanization, population increase, and climate deterioration. He emphasizes that these factors contribute to the emergence of mega-emergencies that could overwhelm societies and demands urgent attention and action to address these pressing issues.
Themes
PopulationClimateUrbanizationEmergenciesChallengesSociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a conference on climate change, one could use this quote to stress the urgency of addressing urban environmental issues.
More from Antonio Guterres
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The world's problems transcend borders.
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Humanitarian response, sustainable development, and sustaining peace are three sides of the same triangle.
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The fact that societies are becoming increasingly multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious is good. Diversity is a strength, not a weakness.
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Syria has become the great tragedy of this century - a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with suffering and displacement unparalleled in recent history.
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