Boris Johnson at U.N.: It's time for humanity to 'grow up' on climate change

Sept. 22 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had stern words for the world's leaders Wednesday during his speech before the U.N. General Assembly, urging them to take more action on climate change because the earth "is not some indestructible toy."

He was among several leaders who spoke during the second day of the General Debate of the assembly, which included Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Johnson said the upcoming 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference -- COP26 -- in Scotland must serve as a turning point on the environment.

"It's time for humanity to grow up. It is time for us to listen to the warnings of the scientists," he said. "And look at COVID, if you want an example of gloomy scientists being proved right -- and to understand who we are and what we are doing.

"The world -- this precious, blue sphere with its eggshell crust and wisp of an atmosphere -- is not some indestructible toy, some bouncy plastic romper room against which we can hurl ourselves to our heart's content."

Johnson's address comes after Brazilian health minister Marcelo Queiroga said he tested positive for COVID-19 after meeting a maskless Johnson in New York City on Tuesday.

Maduro, who is not officially recognized as Venezuela's president by the United States and many Western allies, demanded an end to all sanctions against the country, descriging them as "systematic, cruel and criminal."

"Financial accounts are being chased, gold has been seized and blocked from the legal international reserves of the Central Bank of Venezuela in London, billions of dollars in bank accounts have been seized and blocked in the United States, Europe and more," he said.

Maduro did not deliver his address in person, instead, he, like many others at the General Assembly, opted for a prerecorded address. Maduro also faces drug trafficking charges in the United States.

He also called for the "building of a new world" free of hegemony and instead based on principles of multilateralism and international law.

"A new world that emerges from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and from the native peoples of the United States of America," Maduro said. "A new world that is reborn to end the old hegemonies, to put an end to the pretense of some to become policemen and judges of all the peoples of the world."

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta pointed out an "asymmetry" in vaccine supply, stating it "reflects a multilateral system that is in urgent need of repair."

"To rebuild successfully requires a worldwide response in confidence and investment to enable production and consumption to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels," he said. "The surest way to building that confidence is by making vaccines available to the world in an equitable and accessible manner."

Vietnam's President Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the pandemic has sounded "a warning bell of shocking destruction," exposing shortcomings of governments worldwide and inequality among nations.

"What really motivates us are the strong desire for peace, cooperation and development among the people around the globe, and the deep perception of nations on the importance of international solidarity and multilateralism," he said.

In his remarks on Tuesday, Biden called for greater unity worldwide to end the coronavirus pandemic, said there is great urgency in fighting climate change and said the United States does not seek a "new Cold War."

"The United States is ready to work with any nation that steps up and pursues peaceful resolutions to shared challenges even if we have intense disagreements in other areas," he said.

Wednesday morning, Biden participated in a COVID-19 virtual summit, where he announced the United States is doubling its purchase of Pfizer's vaccine to 1 billion to share with other countries, particularly poorer nations.

Biden has said he would like to see 70% of the global population vaccinated by next year.

Early session (starting at 11 a.m. EDT)

• Bosnia and Herzegovina President Željko Komšić
• Jordan King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein (prerecorded)
• Madagascar President Andry Nirina Rajoelina
• Ghana President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
• Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
• Saudi Arabia King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud (prerecorded)
• Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei Falla
• Marshall Islands President David Kabua (prerecorded)
• Moldova President Maia Sandu
• Uruguay President Luis Lacalle Pou
• Estonia President Kersti Kaljulaid
• Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi
• Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio

Afternoon session (starting at 3 p.m. EDT)

• Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro (prerecorded)
• Mongolia President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh
• Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta (prerecorded)
• Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado
• Indonesia President Joko Widodo (prerecorded)
• Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
• Malawi President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera
• Cabo Verde President Jorge Carlos De Almeida Fonseca
• Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc
• Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé (prerecorded)
• Dominican Republic President Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona
• Guinea President Úmaro Sissoco Embaló
• Dijibouti President Ismaël Omar Guelleh (prerecorded)
• Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (prerecorded)
• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
• Spanish President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón
• Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg (prerecorded)