On June 5th every year, World Environment Day is observed to raise awareness about environmental issues like climate change, marine pollution, over-population, restoring habitats, and sustainable consumption. Individuals, governments, and socially responsible companies usually mark the day with eco-friendly initiatives.
Last year, marked the launch of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030)- a global action to restore degraded terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The need for global action is necessary as various ecosystems are being destroyed at an alarming rate, causing global wildlife populations to plummet. Ecosystem restoration assists in the recovery of degraded ecosystems and includes conservation measures to retain the existing ones.
The theme of World Environment Day 2022
The theme of World Environment Day 202 is "Only One Earth." Every year the day is hosted by a different country, and the global host for this year was Sweden. The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Stockholm Conference, the first international conference on the environment. This year's theme emphasizes the responsibility of citizens to conserve the environment and promote sustainable living in all aspects of life.Last year, marked the launch of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030)- a global action to restore degraded terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The need for global action is necessary as various ecosystems are being destroyed at an alarming rate, causing global wildlife populations to plummet. Ecosystem restoration assists in the recovery of degraded ecosystems and includes conservation measures to retain the existing ones.
Investing in Nature
Conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems through nature-based solutions is a cost-effective way to increase the planet’s resilience. As of 2020, nearly 141 countries were exposed to at least one ecological threat. While both land and marine protected areas continue to expand globally, financing mitigation and adaptation projects have been a great challenge. Current estimates suggest that the annual investment directed towards nature-based solutions should increase three-fold annually by 2050, in order to meet climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation targets.
