World Environment Day is one of the biggest days of recognition for encouraging people worldwide to save and protect our environment from different environmental challenges the world is facing today. The World Environment is also “People’s Day” which is a day to do something to take care of our environment. It is an important platform for promoting the dimensions of environmental Sustainable Development Goals.
What is World Environment Day and when it is Celebrated?
World Environment Day is the biggest annual event in the world run by the United Nations to mark the environmental awareness among the people. Its main aim is to raise awareness to protect our nature and look at various environmental issues that are growing day by day. World Environment Day is celebrated every 5th of June. It is one of the main prime action to protect our environment.
Theme and Host Country for World Environment Day 2020
World Environment Day 2020 will focus on Biodiversity and will be hosted in Colombia in partnership with Germany. This year the theme of World Environment Day 2020 is “Celebrate Biodiversity”.
“With 1 million species facing extinction, there has never been a more important time to focus on biodiversity.”
Colombia is one of the largest “Megadiverse” nations in the world to hold 10% of the planet’s biodiversity. Since it is part of the Amazon rainforest, Colombia ranks first in bird and orchid species diversity and second in plants, butterflies, freshwater fish, and amphibians.
Ricardo Lozano, Colombia’s Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, Jochen Flasbarth, Germany’s Secretary of State for the Climate, and Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, said that with one million species of plants and animals facing extinction, there has never been a more critical time to focus on the problem of biodiversity. The year 2020 is a critical year for nations’ commitments to preserving and restoring biodiversity.
Why should we care about Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variation of Earth’s terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species, as well as their habitats. Biodiversity is vital to the survival of all life on earth and is also the cornerstone for the goods and services of the environment that allow human societies to thrive. Biodiversity provides us with food, water and resources as well as services such as climate control, pollination, flood mitigation and cycling of nutrients.
Ecosystems are relying on all parts from the smallest bacteria to the largest vertebrate. It’s all interconnected. Some are producing oxygen that others are breathing. Some provide food for larger species, which in turn become prey to even larger species. Every living organism has a role to play in the maintenance of balance.
You can ultimately lose much more than one species by removing one element. More than 98% of the species in nature are extinct.
Biodiversity comprises three primary types: species diversity (genetic diversity), species diversity (animal diversity) and habitats diversity (ecosystem diversity).
Global citizens have organized many events like:-
- Neighborhood Cleanup
- Action against Wildlife Crime
- Replanting Forest.
- Save trees
Major factors that affect our Environment:-
- Air Pollution
- Overpopulation
- Deforestation
- Climate change
- Global warming
We are a part of nature and yes we are very much dependent on it so start planting trees and save our environment.
Let’s take an oath to protect our nature on this Environment day!!
Dr. Biswajit Mohapatra, MS
Dean Academics, JPHRC