The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned in a major new report that countries must redesign their development pathways to reduce damage to the environment or risk stalling progress for humanity.

The coronavirus pandemic is the latest crisis facing the world, and societies everywhere need to “release their grip on nature”, or risk more of the same, the agency said in this year's Human Development Report, entitled The Next Frontier.

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator said no country in the world has yet achieved very high human development without putting immense strain on the planet. 

He said however the current generation could be the first generation to right this wrong. 

Veronic Njie reports.