World Environment Day hopes to safeguard the planet for a sustainable future

​Imagine a world where once-thriving ecosystems are now under threat. Biodiversity is depleting, pollution is obliterating beautiful landscapes and climate change is threatening communities and putting lives at risk.

Far from a dystopian future, this is our reality, shocking as it seems.

Therefore, today on World Environment Day (June 5), hundreds of millions of people are urged to take part in the annual campaign to take action to protect the planet from destruction.

This dedicated day, which was founded in 1973, is sharpening the lens on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience to safeguard ecosystems for the future.

It will see a collaboration between governments, businesses, civil society and individuals who will support the preservation of our land and sea for future generations.

This year’s event is hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and will highlight solutions to protect against the planetary crises such as land degradation which affects food production and droughts which have a devastating effect on vulnerable citizens and crops.

How can governments and the finance sector support a better environment?

1. Promote regenerative agriculture to preserve ecosystems and increase food production

2. Allocate funding to nature-based solutions

3. Invest in sustainable land management and conservation that protects the natural infrastructure of waterways

4. Reduce air pollution and minimize adverse impacts of pesticides and fertilizers on human and planetary health

5. Accelerate action on implementing the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (an ambitious pathway to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050)
   

How can businesses be more environmentally friendly?

1. Develop sustainable technologies while implementing efficient waste management practices

2. Ensure equal access to resources, training and funding for women to start businesses or social enterprises focused on ecosystem restoration, such as sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism and green technology

3. Install more green roofs and vertical gardens on buildings to help balance the loss of green spaces in cities and provide habitats for birds, insects and plants

4. Redesign products so they can be reused, repurposed, repaired and recycled especially plastic products

5. Agricultural businesses can develop climate-resilient crop varieties and other adaptation measures to help farmers mitigate the impacts of drought and climate change
   

How can I get involved in World Environment Day?

1. Pressure elected officials at all levels of the government to enact policies that support ecosystem restoration and conservation

2. Demand better labelling including information on products’ carbon footprint and sustainability and choose sustainable, locally produced food and drinks

3. Learn from the 19 Generation Restoration cities selected by UNEP for their successes in restoring urban ecosystems

4. Ensure you reduce, reuse and recycle to slash the plastic waste destined for the ocean

5. Volunteer to contribute to the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes and ecosystems
   

By implementing changes such as the above recommendations, we can all help cultivate a brighter, more sustainable future for everyone.

For more information click here.

Click here to read our previous post on World Environment Day.