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1032. World Environment Day
1032. World Environment Day
World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5, commemorates the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment originally held in 1972 in Stockholm, Sweden. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly at the joint initiative of Japan and Senegal.
Today, 52 years later, ecosystems around the world are at stake. From forests to drylands, farmlands to lakes, under the pressure of human economic activity, the natural world is reaching a tipping point that threatens the very survival of humanity.
According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), 40% of the Earth's land area is degraded, affecting about half of the world's population. The number and duration of droughts have increased by 29% since 2000, and nearly three-quarters of the world's population is projected to be affected by 2050 if urgent action is not taken.
The theme for World Environment Day 2024 is "Land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience" under the slogan "Our land. Our future.” While we may not be able to turn back time to achieve the SDGs, we must work to restore ecosystems around the world by nurturing forests, restoring water sources, and restoring lost soils.
Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program