June 5 is celebrated annually around the world as the World
Environment Day (WED). This is the day that brings environmental
problems into focus and shifts our attention to resolve them. It is also
a day to remind ourselves of the importance of respecting and protecting
the environment.
The UN Environmental Protection (UNEP) agency and many countries
celebrate WED with events designed to enhance our understanding of the
environment.The theme for WED 2009 is ‘Your Planet Needs You-Unite to
Combat Climate Change’. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on
a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some
180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and
improved management of forests.
 This year’s host for the main event is Mexico which reflects the
growing role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate
change.
Mexico is also a leading partner in UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign.
Coming back to the theme, it is clear that climate change - the
biggest threat to our environment - should be tackled at individual
level. How can we do this? It is rather simple. Do you leave lights on
in unoccupied rooms? Do you take the car to the junction that is only
one kilometer away? Do you waste water? All these actions affect our
environment.
Turning off even a single light bulb can make a difference to climate
change. Installing a CFL bulb instead of a normal bulb can save energy.
Walking instead of taking the car on a short journey can prevent the
release of a considerable amount of Carbon Dioxide.
Planting even a single tree can help the environment enormously.
These are simple actions that can have a far-reaching effect on our
world.This is why our Planet needs us. Remember, it is the only home we
have, at least until we terraform Mars or find other habitable planets
elsewhere in the universe. But these are at least centuries away.
Uniting to save our Earth is the only viable option.
Each local action has a global effect. If all of us do even a simple
thing to save the environment, it will translate into a collective
global phenomenon. All should unite to combat climate change, as the
theme suggests.Governments can only do so much to protect the
environment. The rest is up to us. The future of our Earth is literally
in our hands. Let us not fail in that mission. |
