Humanity needs to come together for the planet's health

Emissions rising from smokestacks at a coal-fired power plant in the United States. The world needs to more than halve the production of coal, oil and gas in the coming decade to maintain a chance of keeping global warming from reaching dangerous levels, according to a UN-backed study released on Oct 20, 2021. — AP

I arrived back in Malaysia in late March 2020 after more than a decade working overseas with the United Nations, and then the International Federation of the Red Cross. Thankfully, I made it in before the borders closed so that I could be back in a country I am proud to call home.

Covid-19 has upended our lives in ways which would have seemed surreal two years ago. With the accelerated vaccination programme, we now join the ranks of countries ready to open up, returning to some semblance of normality.