GENEVA, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that the COVID-19 pandemic has given new impetus to the need to accelerate efforts to respond to climate change.

"Throughout history, outbreaks and pandemics have changed economies and societies, this one will be no different," Tedros said at a virtual press briefing from Geneva.

Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic "has given us a glimpse of our world as it could be: cleaner skies and rivers," he said: "Building back better means building back greener."

In May, WHO published its Manifesto for a Healthy Recovery from COVID-19, with six policy prescriptions for a healthy and green recovery -- protecting nature, investing in water and sanitation, promoting healthy food systems, transitioning to renewable energy, building liveable cities, and stopping subsidies on fossil fuels.

Since then, over 40 million health professionals from 90 countries have sent a letter to G20 leaders, calling for a Healthy Recovery from COVID-19.

The WHO chief reiterated that "COVID-19 is a once-in-a-century health crisis. But it also gives us a once-in-a-century opportunity to shape the world our children will inherit - the world we want."

Citing countries like Kenya, Pakistan and Spain, he said: "We have seen many examples of countries acting to protect lives, livelihoods and the planet on which they depend." Enditem