United Nations, Nov 12: As the world’s population is approaching 8 billion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave a review of the mixed implications, urging the world community to seize opportunities and take actions to bridge divides between the global haves and have-nots.

On November 15, the world’s population is projected to reach 8 billion people, having grown by 1 billion since 2010, according to a recent policy brief by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

In an op-ed article published on Friday by the USA Today newspaper, Guterres called the milestone “a testament to scientific breakthroughs and improvements in nutrition, public health and sanitation”.

The 8-billion-strong world could yield enormous opportunities for some of the poorest countries, where population growth is highest, he said, adding that within a few decades, today’s poorest countries could become engines of sustainable, green growth and prosperity across entire regions.