CB Bureau‘This year, the World Environment Day theme is Green Economy: Does it
include you? This highlights that the green economy is an essential rethink to
the way we do business, if we are to create a brighter future. But more
importantly, the theme accentuates the fact that “you†are an important element
to its success and invites you to evaluate whether the steps being taken by the
government, private sector, civil society and community in your area “include
you,†reads the text on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) website
where 8,740 activities have been registered by social organizations, business
enterprises as well as individuals to celebrate World Environment Day.
Of the many activities planned across the globe are street rallies,
bicycle parades, green concerts, and essay and poster competitions in schools,
tree planting, recycling efforts, and clean-up campaigns.
The day’s thematic celebrations have in the past included caring for the
earth and water, the ozone layer, climate change, desertification and
sustainable development.
The 2012 World Environment Day marks the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In this significant year for the environment and sustainable
development, the world leaders will once again meet at the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development, twenty years after the historic Earth
Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 1992. Dubbed Rio+20, one of the main themes of this
Summit is ‘a green economy in the context of sustainable development and
poverty eradication’.
The UNEP website says: ‘The green economy touches almost every aspect of
our lives and concerns our development. For example, it is about sustainable
energy, green jobs, low carbon economies, green policies, green buildings,
agriculture, fisheries, forestry, industry, energy efficiency, sustainable
tourism, sustainable transport, waste management, water efficiency and all
other resource efficiency. These are all elements involved in the successful
implementation of a green economy.
‘Linking World Environment Day to the “green economy”, however, should not
limit or stop you from celebrating your other environmental achievements. After
all, every positive environmental action has an impact, and part of the fun is
finding creative ways to link your activity to the “green economy” – and there
are many.’
Note: CauseBecause is running a ‘caption the picture’ contest to celebrate
WED. Here’s a link to the contest: WED – Caption Contest