World Environment Day 2016, June 5.

世界环境日, 6月5日.
 Всемирный день окружающей среды, 5 июня.
World Environment Day, 5 June.
Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente, 5 de junio.
Journée mondiale de l'environnement, 5 juin.
 .اليوم العالمي للبيئة , 5 حزيران/يونيه

Theme 2016 : Zero tolerance for the illegal trade in wildlife.
Tema 2016 : Tolerancia cero para el comercio ilícito de las especies silvestres.
Thème 2016 : Tolérance Zéro à l'égard du commerce illicite d’espèces sauvages.
 2016年的主題 : 对非法野生动植物贸易零容忍.
Тема Дня 2016 года: Политика абсолютной нетерпимости к незаконной торговле дикими животными.
موضوع 2016: عدم التسامح إطلاقاً مع الاتجار غير المشروع بالأحياء البرية

 

#WildForLife

Statement from United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon on World Environment Day 2016, June 5th.

This year’s observance of World Environment Day shines a much-needed spotlight on the illegal trade in wildlife.  There is grave cause for alarm.  Elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory, rhinos for their horns, and pangolins for their scales.  From sea turtles to tigers to rosewood, thousands of species of wild animals and plants are being driven ever closer to extinction.  The businesses and individuals involved are motivated solely by short-term gain at the expense of long-term benefit to communities and habitats.  In many instances, they act in collusion with transnational organized crime networks and groups actively involved in destabilizing nations.

The United Nations and its many partners have resolved to tackle this illicit trade, including by setting clear targets to put an end to poaching in the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted last year by all 193 Member States.  Last month, at the second United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, we launched a UN “Wild For Life” global campaign, led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Convention on the International Trade in Wild Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).  The campaign asks everyone to pledge to end the illegal trade in wildlife, from ordinary citizens, who can ensure they do not buy prohibited products, to governments, who can pursue change though implementing effective policies to protect species and ecosystems.

Angola, which is this year’s World Environment Day global host, has served notice that it will no longer tolerate the sale of illegal wildlife products, and is strengthening legislation and increasing border controls as part of efforts to restore elephant populations that were devastated by the country’s civil war.  Such action sends a strong message that wild species of plants and animals are a precious commodity that must be sustainably managed and protected from illegal trade.

On this World Environment Day, I urge people and governments everywhere to overcome indifference, combat greed and act to preserve our natural heritage for the benefit of this and future générations.

 

Ban Ki-moon

United Nations Secretary-General

Message Achim Steiner, UN Secretary General and Executive Director of UNEP on World Environment Day 2016, June 5th.

In 2016, our focus for World Environment Day is combatting the illegal trade in wildlife. Angola, this year’s host, is committed to acting on this issue, through efforts such as defining a new elephant management plan, strengthening the enforcement of wildlife laws and regulating domestic markets in line with CITES obligations. We support the actions being considered by Angola to join this good fight.

Thousands of species around the world are under threat and deserve our attention, but today we give special focus to eight: Orangutan, Sea Turtle, Pangolin, Rosewood, Helmeted Hornbill, Tiger, Elephant, and Rhino. Our challenge is formidable.

From 2010to 2012, 100,000 elephants were illegally killed for their ivory and Rhinos are being pushed to the brink of extinction. Pangolins are now the most illegally trafficked mammal in the world. Additional pressures, such as habitat loss and climate change, are further driving species to extinction.

The global fight against illegal trade in wildlife is now witnessing a new wave of commitment and calls for action. It has risen to the top of the UN agenda and is enshrined in the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

It is also the focus of the new UN campaign, led by UNEP, UNDP, UNODC and CITES to raise awareness of, and reduce demand for, illegal wildlife and forest products. This “Wild for Life” campaign stresses that greed, fashion, ignorance, indifference, investment, corruption,  pseudo-medicinal use and cultural belief should not result in threats to any species.

It’s a cycle of poverty and corruption that drives wildlife crime that we have to break. It is this cycle, where the poorest and most vulnerable are pushed into working against natural resources to survive rather than working with them to build a better future that we need to address. We have to think about this through the lens of sustainable development, with its implications for transparency and global impact. We need to pool all   resources to take the challenge on, we must be united in this cause. We must think globally and locally. And we must have zero tolerance for poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and forest products.

We ask you to use your own sphere of influence to help end the illegal trade in wildlife, by engaging in the campaign and making a pledge. Please act now. Our collective actions will determine the future of these beautiful animals, and thousands of others. Together, we must be #WildforLife.

 

Achim Steiner

UNEP Executive Secretary

Global Environment Outlook - GEO6

Forum : 5 June - World Environment Day.

World Environment Day aims to inspire more people than ever before to take action to prevent the growing strain on planet Earth’s natural systems from reaching the breaking point. The 2016 theme highlights the fight against the illegal trade in wildlife, which erodes precious biodiversity and threatens the survival of elephants, rhinos and tigers, as well as many other species. It also undermines our economies, communities and security. This year’s slogan "Go Wild for Life" encourages you to spread the word about wildlife crime and the damage it does, and to challenge all those around you to do what they can to prevent it.


Events :  Angola is the World Environment Day 2016 host Country.



This year’s World Environment Day 2016 celebrations are hosted by Angola, a country seeking to restore its elephant herds, conserve Africa’s biodiversity-rich wildlife, and safeguard the environment as it continues to rebuild after more than a quarter-century of civil war.
“Angola is delighted to host World Environment Day, which will focus on an issue close to our hearts,” said Angolan Environment Minister Maria de Fatima Jardim. “The illegal wildlife trade, particularly the trade in ivory and rhino horn, is a major problem across our continent. By hosting this day of celebration and awareness-raising, we aim to send a clear message that such practices will soon be eradicated.”

Ahead of WED, Angola has:

• Vowed to end the trade in illegal wildlife products in the country, including at Benfica Market in the capital, Luanda, one of the largest ivory markets in Africa.
• Announced tougher border and airport screening controls to counter the smuggling of illegal wildlife products.
• Joined 12 other African nations in signing the Elephant Protection Initiative, which focuses on safeguarding elephants through measures such as closing down domestic markets.
• Pledged to undertake a robust inventory of its ivory stockpile.
• Promised to fulfill its commitments under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), including stepping up implementation of its National Ivory Action Plan.
• Hosted the International Conference of the Africa Prosecutors' Association, which resulted in a declaration calling for strengthened cooperation within the CITES Framework.

World Wildlife Crime Report (UNODC)

Special high-level event on “Wildlife Crime and New York Launch of the

 

World Wildlife Crime Report.

co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Germany and Gabon, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

The launch will provide a key opportunity to take stock of international efforts to address wildlife crime, as we work towards implementing the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN last fall, which in Goal 15 calls upon all governments to "Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products,"and to "Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities." Wildlife and forest crime destroys diversity and hinders sustainable development on our planet. Billions of dollars in profit are made from this crime. In 2015, 1,175 rhinos were poached in South Africa, while Central Africa has now lost 64 per cent of its elephants in less than a decade. The industrial scale of the killing, the heinous murder of park rangers, the seizures of shipments measured not in kilos, but tons, point to organized crime's involvement in these acts of unconscionable greed. If we are to conserve animal and plant species for successive generations, we must take on the criminals and end the impunity often associated with this crime. To achieve this, an integrated approach is needed to reduce demand and interrupt supply through the seizure of shipments, assets and proceeds.

 

Live Broadcasting :

Edmond Mulet (Chef de Cabinet) , World Wildlife Crime Report (UNODC)
Yury Fedotov (UNODC), World Wildlife Crime Report.
Mogens Lykketoft (General Assembly President), World Wildlife Crime Report (UNODC).


 

 

News :

° UNEP-INTERPOL Report: Value of Environmental Crime up 26% .
° An elephant in the backyard - speech by UNEP Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Thiaw at the Nairobi Celebrations of World Environment Day.
° UNEP Head Opens Wildlife Ranger School in Angola.
° If wildlife crime makes you wild – get wild for life.
° From Kashmir to Barcelona, WED community gears up to celebrate environment, fight wildlife crime.
° UNEP Statement on discovery of tiger cub bodies in thilandpnuma.
° It Takes a Village to Save an Elephant. It Takes a Community to Protect 500 of Them.
° Stand with the United Nations and Angola, Global Host for World Environment Day 2016, by pledging your support and joining the global fight against the illegal trade in wildlife.
° Backed by Stars, Unprecedented UN Campaign Seeks to Mobilize Millions to End Illegal Trade in Wildlife.
° New Task Force Set to Stop Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds.
° As Kenya Stages Largest-Ever Ivory Destruction, UNEP Reiterates Zero Tolerance for Illegal Trade in Wildlife.
° Gearing up for UNEA- 2, African Ministers Pledge Accelerated Action on Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Illegal Trade in Wildlife.
° Angola announces major push against ivory trade as it gears up for World Environment Day.
° New UN Web Tool Demonstrates Climate Benefits of Protecting Apes

 

 

 



 

India : Tigers Face Extinction.

Every year John Isaac, an Indian-born photographer, travels from New York City in the United States to document the rare Bengal tigers of Rajasthan, India. But with every journey he is more and aware of their precarious fate- factors including loss of land to encroaching human settlements, loss of forest cover due to Climate Change, and Poaching are putting the lives of these magnificent tigers at risk of extinction.
 

World Environment Day 2015, June 5

世界環境日, 6月5日.
 Всемирный день окружающей среды, 5 июня.
World Environment Day, June 5.
 Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente, 5 de Junio.
Journée Mondiale de l'Environnement, 5 Juin.

Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente

اليوم العالمي للبيئة - 5 يونيو

Theme 2015 : Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.

тема

тема

тема 2015 :  Семь миллиардов желаний. Одна планета. Потребляйте бережно
 Tema 2015 : Siete mil millones de sueños. Un solo planeta. Consume con moderación.
Theme 2015 :  Sept milliards de rêves. Une seule planète. Consommons avec modération.

The United Nations Secretary-General Message on World Environment Day  2015.

The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”.  The goal of sustainable development is to increase the quality of life for all people without increasing environmental degradation, and without compromising the resource needs of future generations. We can do this by shifting our consumption patterns towards goods that use less energy, water and other resources, and by wasting less food.  In this year of transformation, when we hope to see great advances on sustainable development and climate change, let us celebrate World Environment Day by becoming more conscious of our ecological impact. Let us think about the environmental consequences of the choices we make. Let us become better stewards of our planet.

Ban Ki-moon

Message by Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme on World Environment Day 2015.

Living in an increasingly globalized world, inhabited by 7 billion people, it is easy to underestimate the power of individual action. The annual World Environment Day reminds people across the globe that it is our personal choices that shape the world around us. Our daily decisions as consumers, multiplied by billions, have a colossal impact on the environment – some of them contribute to the further depletion of natural resources, others help to protect fragile ecosystems. Every time - the choice is ours. 

 The theme for this year’s celebrations, Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care, emphasizes that personal responsibility each one of us bears for enabling inclusive and sustainable economic development while stabilizing and reducing the rate of resource use.  

Today, unsustainable patterns of consumption and production are one of the major causes of the continued deterioration of the global environment. 

 There is no doubt that the "great acceleration" of the last 50 years has seen a rapid transformation of the human relationship with the natural world – more so than in any other period in our history – with escalating use of natural resources leading to environmental degradation.  

We must ask ourselves what the consequences of this pace of consumption and trajectory of population growth—forecasted to reach nine billion by 2050—will be. Under current trends, global extraction of resources is set to reach 140 billion tonnes by 2050, compared to around 7 billion tonnes in 1900. This will probably exceed the availability and accessibility of resources, as well as the carrying capacity of the planet to absorb the impacts of their extraction and use.  

We simply cannot afford the waste, as resources are diminishing and prices are rising. But there is still time to transform the challenges of dwindling and finite resources into opportunities that will promote prosperous economies and a healthy planet for generations to come. 

 I would like to invite everyone to imagine what the world would be like if each of the 7 billion people made one change towards a more responsible consumption of resources. I would like you to hold on to that vision and strive to make it reality—be it refusing to buy single-use plastic bags or riding a bike to work.  

WED is the opportunity for everyone to realize the responsibility to care for the Earth and to become agents of change.

FORUM : 5 June - World Environment Day

World Environment Day Host Country - Italy  

WED 2015 is being globally hosted by Italy, a country at the forefront of global action towards improved global nutrition and resource use.  “It is an honour for Italy to work together with UNEP in leading the global celebrations for World Environment Day 2015,” said Italian Minister for the Environment Gian Luca Galletti. “This year, WED will focus on the need to respect the carrying capacity of the planet and to manage natural resources efficiently—all aspects that are of utmost importance if we really want to ensure prosperity and wellbeing globally.”  “I firmly believe in the benefits offered by sustainable consumption and production models in terms of economic opportunities, inclusiveness, employment, resiliency and quality of life,” he said. “We have a unique opportunity to take advantage of the international and multidimensional arena represented by EXPO 2015 to stimulate greater thinking and action on these topics in view of the crucial decisions that will be taken later this year: the launch of the post-2015 development agenda in September, and the new agreement on Climate Change in December.”  Watch out for regular updates, photos, videos and blogs on events in Italy here.  Highlights of the WED 2015 Programme in Italy include collaboration with the Milan Expo.

EVENTS :  WED Global Roundup  

The main celebrations for World Environment Day 2015 are being hosted in Milan, Italy. WED will however also be celebrated in many parts of the world led by UNEP Regional Offices and partners. Africa: Cote d'Ivoire  A mobile marketing truck will pass through three cities, focusing on consumption patterns in these areas, involving local and consumer groups. In addition there will be a Family Awareness Event/ Journées Portes ouvertes involving different environmental stakeholders, universities, research institutes etc. There will also be televised panel discussions.    

Kenya (UNEP HQ)  Led by Step by Step, UNEP and UNON who will have a ‘green week’ from 2 to 5 June, aiming to sensitize staff on greener and sustainable practices, focusing on reducing plastic waste and reducing environmental impacts of food choices. Activities include: a booth to share a dream and make a pledge; participation by UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Suzanna Owiyo to speak about her Soko Bila Waste Initiative; a group of children from Nairobi slums will share their experience on life at the dumpsite in Nairobi.  

  Rwanda   : The Rwanda Environment Management Authority, the UN in Rwanda and and Government of Rwanda have organised a National Environment Week (30 May to 5 June) to celebrate WED. Activities will involve a press conference to announce WED; Community Work “Umuganda” at the site managed by Supporting Ecosystem Rehabilitation and Protection for Pro-poor Green Growth Programme in Burera District; public lectures in several provinces; three New Times one-page supplements between 29 May and 3 June; social media campaign; and an event quiz.    

South Africa  UNEP will launch a pilot project on the adoption of the guidance methodology for food waste reduction in Pretoria, South Africa. Events include media interviews, launch of the Think.Eat.Save. Guidance Document and outreach events at the Pretoria public market.       

Asia Pacific: 

China : WED celebrations will run from 3 – 5 June in Shanghai and Beijing. Led by UNEP Deputy Executive Director activities include the following: media interview with GQ Magazine, along with a few celebrity supporters; pre-recorded participation in the CCTV Flagship Dialogue programme on WED; launch of WED poster series at the Beijing International Airport and signing of a cooperation agreement with the Beijing Airport Authority; and a student outreach event with celebrity – Mr. Zhu Yawen – and other media events.    

Japan :  UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre, together with Osaka City Government, are organising a seminar on 5 June focused on the WED theme and targeting the private sector, especially small and medium-sized companies.    

Korea :  UNEP National Committee for the Republic of Korea (UNEP Korea) will host a public event in Korea on June 5th in cooperation with Gyeonggi-do Provincial Government.  As part of the celebrations, UNEP Korea will promote WED along with its own campaign, “Green Planet.” UNEP Korea’s focus for this year’s WED is to educate the communities in Korea on how to lead an eco-friendly lives on a daily basis by providing education and running various hands-on activities. There will be variety of games and quiz events that will motivate people to sustain a good lifestyle by using less water and energy, and having less food waste.       

Europe: 

Austria :  UNEP Vienna, together with GRASP, GRID-Arendal and UNIS, will organize two public events on “Human-wildlife conflicts in mountain regions”, featuring the launch of a photo exhibit at the Vienna International Center and which will remain open until 30 June. The event will also feature the European launch of the newly produced African Mountain Atlas.  The second event will take place on Monday 8 June at the UNIS CineONU Event in Vienna’s TopKino and will feature the screening of the highly acclaimed documentary “Virunga” which focuses on the conservation work of rangers in Virunga National Park.    

Belgium : WED in Brussels will be celebrated at the Parc du Cinquantenaire on 7 June, with the Fete de l’Environnement organised by the Brussels Region. UNEP will lead an information stand for the UN which, together with UNRIC, UNESCO and FAO, will provide information on climate change and the upcoming COP21, as well as on sustainable consumption. An infographic has been produced by UNRIC in collaboration with UNEP and UNFCCC that will inform the public of everyday actions they can take to live in a more sustainable and eco-friendly manner. The UNEP/UN stand will also feature includes a demonstration of vertical urban gardening and awareness-raising games on sustainable consumption and energy efficiency.  WED will also be promoted at Green Week (2-5 June) and the European Development Days (3-4 June) taking place in Brussels, as well as at a dedicated CineONU screening on 8 June, where will we show a documentary relating to climate change.    

Bosnia and Herzegovina : UNEP’s Sarajevo office will launch Sarajevo’s Summer for the Environment through a press conference and joint UN release, followed by a visit to the protected areas in the Sarajevo Canton. Building on the successful production of a short film on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s biological and landscape diversity, awareness-raising activities on nature conservation through art will be held at the most important cultural event in the region – the Sarajevo Film Festival.    

France :  A quiz is being prepared for 20 Minutes, a free tabloid newspaper which has a daily readership of about 3 million. The City of Paris will as usual promote WED on the 150+ electronic billboards around Paris. A staff event on sustainable lifestyles will coincide with DTIE's 40th birthday.    

Moldova:  WED will be celebrated in Moldova with a major conference on environment and climate change taking place in the Palace of the Republic. The conference will be opened by the President of the Republic of Moldova among other distinguished guests and includes presentations on improving energy efficiency, organic farming and environmental education. National policy makers as well as international organizations, NGOs, business and civil society are expected to attend. The event follows a scoping study carried out by UNEP that looked at different scenarios showing the potential for the country to shift towards being a Green Economy.    

Switzerland : Coordinated by the Geneva Environment Network Secretariat, with the contribution of various international governmental and non-governmental organizations and local authorities, events have been organised over three days to include: an Environmental Quiz; a UNOG Library talk presenting the Garbage Patch State; Edora cafétérias green men; a Ciné-ONU screening of the movie "Virunga" at the Maison de la Paix, inside the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies; and a Geneva Environment Roundtable on Sustainable Procurement at the Maison Internationale de L'Environement.       

Latin America and the Caribbean: 

Brazil : Celebrations will begin on May 31st and end on June 6th. There will be various activities to promote sustainable consumption, including film screenings to the general public and at public schools; Cycle Tour in Brasilia; WED ceremony at the UN House; an organic fair; and social media campaign.    

Bahamas : (for the Regional Office for North America)  5 Gyres plastic pollution scientists (part of UNEP Marine Litter Partnership), The Island School, Cape Eleuthra Institute, internationally renowned singer Jack Johnson and his All at Once Foundation are partnering in a Youth Summit to bring together activists, artists, filmmakers, scientists, educators and youth to explore the question—how will island nations deal with plastic pollution in the 21st century. A highlight of the Summit will be the designation of Jack Johnson as UNEP Goodwill Ambassador (North America). He will then embark on an 8-day sailing expedition to conduct and build on the global research of plastic pollution in the ocean.  Jack will also be featured on the cover of the USA Today supplement on 5 June, with an interview highlighting WED and his designation. An article from UNEP focused on food waste will be appearing in the same USA Today supplement.       

West Asia: 

Dubai : In partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Zayed International Foundation for the Environment, Municipality of Dubai, and the Business Sector, UNEP will be holding a popular event to raise awareness about WED 2015. Activities involve building a stage and stands in Dubai Mall, the biggest mall in Dubai, where workshops will be held and animations displayed. It will be an opportunity to also interact with a wide range of people. Thousands are expected to attend.    

Bahrain : UNEP will organise a special event in Bahrain City Center, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Gulf Air, and GPIC (business sector). A well-known specialised team in theatre will come from Lebanon to raise environmental awareness about WED 2015 theme. There are also plans to produce a Public Service Announcement with the Prince in Bahrain and the UNEP Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab region to be broadcasted at the take-off and landing of Gulf Air.    

Kuwait :  In coordination with UNCG in Kuwait, WED 2015 will be highlighted through an awareness session for Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and contractors’ employees on resource conservation, and KOC efforts on the same. Activities include a Best Environmental Slogans Competition, based on the theme – Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume wit Care; a Field Cleaning Competition for Contractors; and an Environmental Awareness and Plantation Distribution in two schools.    

Qatar  : UNEP, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment in Qatar, will support a business sector company to organise awareness raising activities to mark WED 2015. Activities will include competitions and winners will be awarded on the day.

The United Nations Secretary-General Message on World Environment Day, 5 June 2015

by Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations

- See more at: http://www.unep.org/wed/messages/#sthash.Hn4Fp4vB.dpuf

The United Nations Secretary-General Message on World Environment Day, 5 June 2015

by Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations

- See more at: http://www.unep.org/wed/messages/#sthash.Hn4Fp4vB.dpuf