World Environment Day – 5th June 2010
Many Species, One Planet, One Future is the dramatic theme for this year’s World Environment Day, taking place on 5th June 2010.
World Environment Day (WED) was created to celebrate the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm on June 5th 1972.
This was the occasion that marked the first international cooperation between governments on problems relating to the global environment – with the intention of taking remedial action.
World Environment Day – For All Nations
The first WED took place in 1973, and is coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme on the same day every year to “give a human face to environmental issues” – to empower people to become more aware of environmental problems, and become involved in the search for a sustainable future and improved quality of life whilst also promoting a partnership between people of all nations.
Taking place in the summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere, WED has a distinct focus each year and is hosted by different countries.
World Environment Day 2010 – Many Species. One Planet. One Future.
In 2010 the theme “Many Species. One Planet. One Future.” reflects the multiplicity of species and ecosystems in the world, as well as the importance of preserving its environmental richness.
To reflect the theme of biodiversity Rwanda, the East African “land of a thousand hills” was chosen to be the Global Host of World Environment Day: a country that at present is making a transition to a more sustainable and green economy.
As the home to more than 1,000 plant species and 13 different primates – including many rare and endangered groups such as mountain gorillas – Rwanda’s capital Kigali is ideally placed as venue for this global celebration.
Rwanda: An Example of the Challenges Facing the Global Community
The East African country faces many challenges relating to poverty and land degradation and deforestation.
Acidification has been caused by heavy rainfall disrupting ecosystem nutrient flows, and many precious African fauna and flora species are on the verge of extinction; as one of the three countries that is home to the 720 surviving mountain gorillas (the other two being Uganda and DRC), Rwanda has to deal with illegal trafficking and poaching.
Recently, the country has pioneered a move to address climate change and environmental issues by embracing a Green Economy and investing in renewable energies like solar power and biogas generation.
National environmental campaigns have also been instituted including a universally applauded ban on plastic bags, and the development of a conservation corridor for chimpanzees.
Putting the World into Environment Day
Although Rwanda is at the centre of the global celebration, there are hundreds of other events taking place around the world to mark World Environment Day 2010.
The day marks an occasion when everyone can become involved in promoting an issue that is of universal concern and affects all people equally – from the poorest to the richest nations, from individuals to presidents, and from conglomerates to sole traders.
The 2009 WED was hosted by Mexico, and saw an unprecedented number of activities taking place around the globe with people in over 80 countries including Kenya, New Zealand, Poland, Spain and the US, signing up to register events
Campaigns ranged from tree planting drives, expositions, community clean ups, bird watching trips, street rallies, green petitions and nationwide schemes. Thousands of people joined the Twitter for Trees campaign and contributed to the Daily Do Something Tips.
Anyone can organise or register an event on the website at www.unep.org
In doing so they will become part of the worldwide movement to celebrate the environmental richness that makes up the planet today, as well as helping to shape a more sustainable way of life for generations in the future.
External Links:
World Environment Day 2010
United Nations Environment Programme
UNEP and WED 2010 on Twitter
UNEP Facebook page
UNEP on YouTube