UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres on Monday urged immediate action to halt the destruction of the Earth, citing that nearly 40 percent of the planet's land is degraded, with more being lost every second, reported Xinhua.

"Every second, around four football fields of healthy land are degraded," the UN chief said in a video message for the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, marked annually on June 17.

"The security, prosperity and health of billions...