“In all things
of nature there is something of the marvellous.” – Aristotle
Today is World
Environment Day, which is an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest
and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. World
Environment Day activities rightly take place all year round, but the climax is
on the 5th of June every year, involving people all around the world.
The celebration of World Environment Day began in 1972 and since then has grown
to become the one of the main ways that the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of
the environment and encourages political attention and action.
Through World
Environment Day, the UN Environment Programme is able to personalise
environmental issues and enable everyone to realise not only their
responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of
sustainable and equitable development. This day is also a day for people from
all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter
outlook for themselves and future generations.
Everyone can
become involved in celebrating World Environment Day: Organise a clean-up in
your home, workplace, neighbourhood or community; stop using plastic bags and
get your community to do the same; plant a tree or better yet organise a collective
tree planting effort; walk to work or use public transport instead of driving;
start a recycling drive; reduce your carbon footprint; grow your own vegetables
and fruit; use solar power and other renewable energy sources; conserve water,
and lots more. Your local council can provide you with a host of other idea
around green living, conservation and sustainability.
The 2012 theme
for World Environment Day is Green Economy, into which everyone can contribute,
not just politicians and economists. A Green Economy is one that results in
improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing
environmental risks and ecological scarcities. It can be thought of as an
economy, which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.
A Green Economy
is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private
investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and
resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem
services. These investments need to be catalysed and supported by targeted special
government budget-driven initiatives, legal and policy reforms and regulatory
changes. Citizens can also contribute to this by lobbying politicians, joining
action groups and supporting industries that prescribe to Green Economy ideals.
Oh, and perhaps the least
you could do today is hug a tree!
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