World Environment Day: A Global Call to Action
Today, 5 June 2021, is World Environment Day (WED)! This day was proclaimed for the first time in 1972. Between 5 and 16 June of that year, the first conference on environmental issues was held in Stockholm, Sweden. The aim of the conference was to forge a basic common outlook on how to address the challenge of preserving and enhancing the human environment.
The day was chosen by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution (A/RES/2994 (XXVII)) of December 15, 1972, which called for strong cooperation between governments and international organizations to undertake world-wide activities every year. These efforts reaffirm a global concern for the preservation and enhancement of the environment, deepening awareness and pursuing the determination expressed at the Conference.
In the same year, the General Assembly established the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the specialised agency on environmental issues that has been instrumental in promoting awareness regarding climate change.
Environmental protection is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda, which dedicates Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 to this theme: Protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
WED 2021: The Focus of This Year
World Environment Day 2021 calls for urgent action to revive our damaged ecosystems. The major goal is to prevent, stop, and reverse the damage inflicted on the Planet's ecosystems, seeking to move from exploiting nature to healing it.
An ecosystem is the fundamental ecological unit—a community of living organisms of different species living in a particular place and physical environment. Relationships are established between the organisms and their environment, resulting in a continuous exchange of matter and energy. Every day, we unconsciously enjoy the benefits of natural ecosystems.
Unfortunately, the world's ecosystems are in great danger. Around one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. Until recently, studies estimated that between 20 and 50% of ocean and coastal ecosystems were already damaged. However, a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Forests and Global Change revealed a more tragic scenario: only 3% of the world's landmass remains ecologically intact.
A restoration economy would create millions of green jobs and increase humanity's resilience to future shocks. By revitalising farmland, grasslands, forests, wetlands, and peatlands, we rebuild carbon-storing capacity, increase soil fertility, and help protect the world from epidemic diseases like Covid-19.
GEYC’s Action in Supporting Environmental Protection
GEYC has been committed to international environmental guidelines for 10 years, following the precepts of the Sustainable Development Goals in all projects. We aim to improve youth skills to help advance SDGs and motivate young people to become active in the battle against climate change. Key activities include:
- Earlier this year we have applied for the UN Special Consultative Status (ECOSOC).
- On 24 May 2021, GEYC became a European Climate Pact Ambassador, committed to informing and supporting climate action within our networks.
- Supporting the Issue-based Coalition on Adolescent and Youth (led by UNICEF and UNFPA) to increase youth participation in the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.
- Participation in the UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY16) Global Affairs Unit.
- Active participation since 2019 in the project "KA2 EllE Empower - learn - led - Expand," which enables young people to build inclusive sustainable development models across 5 countries.