World Environment Day is the most renowned day for environmental action since 1974, but we are still struggling to meet our commitment our planet. It would take 1.6 Earths to meet the demands that humans make on nature each year. This year it is . The 2020 focus of the observance is on biodiversity 鈥 a concern that is both urgent and existential. Recent events, from bushfires in Brazil, the United States, and Australia to locust infestations across East Africa 鈥 and now, a global disease pandemic 鈥 demonstrate the interdependence of humans and the webs of life.
Natural Resources and the Environment
A pandemic allows for a 鈥渨hat if鈥 moment:聽How to champion biodiversity as the world stands still
From mangrove to mountain:聽Building coastal resilience in Timor-Leste
A 鈥榖lue鈥 economy implies some measure of alignment between economic development and the health of the ocean. helps Seychelles, consisting of about 115 islands, strike that balance.
If you take care of the land, it will take care of you, says Tsefaye Kidane, a coffee farmer in southwest Ethiopia. When he took over the farm from his father, Kidane said the soil quality was poor and crops erratic, their irregularity exacerbated by the ravages of climate change and decades of land degradation. With support from the , Kidane has turned the situation around. He has addressed soil erosion with a host of measures, including terracing the steep landscape.
Urgent action is needed to safeguard the biodiversity of the world鈥檚 forests amid alarming rates of deforestation and degradation, according to . The report, produced by and , shows that conservation of the world鈥檚 biodiversity is dependent on the way we interact with the world鈥檚 forests. The COVID-19 crisis has thrown into focus the importance of sustainably using nature and recognizing the link between the ecosystem鈥檚 and people鈥檚 health.
Our solutions are in nature
A celebration of the incredible biodiversity in the national parks of Colombia, the host of World Environment Day 2020. Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, home to over 51,000 species.
Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activity. We, however, depend on their survival. Pollinators not only contribute to food security and biodiversity; they are fundamental to our ecosystems. Nearly 90% of the world鈥檚 wild flowering plant species, more than 75% of the world鈥檚 food crops and 35% of global agricultural land, depend on pollination. On May 20 learn more of what you can do to protect bees and tune in to take part in our virtual event on the future of beekeeping in the COVID-19 era!
1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. Biodiversity loss is a loss for humanity. Beyond an environmental problem, it also affects our health by restricting the food supply and access to medicine. This year鈥檚 theme for the International Day for Biological Diversity, 鈥淥ur solutions are in nature鈥, emphasizes a message of hope, solidarity and the importance of working together to build a future of life in harmony with nature. In these times of COVID-19, stays committed to restoring lost ecosystems and biodiversity, to reduce the risks of future pandemics.
The United Nations Environment Programme () is stepping up its work on mapping zoonotic threat and protecting the environment to reduce the risk of future pandemics, such as the COVID-19 crisis.
As the world plans for a post-pandemic recovery, the United Nations calls Governments to seize the opportunity to 鈥渂uild back better鈥 by creating more sustainable, resilient and inclusive societies. The 缅北禁地is devising a blueprint for a healthier planet and society that leaves no one behind and actions are being taken to ensure a more resilient future. Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres proposed six climate-related actions to shape the recovery. While works closely to build scientific knowledge on .
While the coronavirus has been spreading around the world and dominating news headlines, asks climate action to remain urgent. Earth day is now more important than ever.
On Earth Day, harnessing the power of nature to heal herself
In the path of the monarch butterfly