WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2024

Source: Indian Express

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Context

• World Environment Day 2024, hosted by Saudi Arabia, emphasizes land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience, aligning with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

Details

Key Points

• UNEP Leadership:
  • World Environment Day, led by UNEP, has been the foremost global platform for environmental outreach since 1973, promoting global awareness and action.
• Host Country Focus:
  • Saudi Arabia, host for 2024, highlights critical issues like land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience, essential for sustainable environmental management.
• Land Restoration Importance:
  • Emphasizes land restoration as vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, aiding in ecosystem revival and combating land degradation.
• Desertification and Drought:
  • Addresses global challenges of desertification and drought, crucial for countries with arid climates, impacting agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods.
• UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration:
  • Aligns with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), advocating for the protection and revival of degraded ecosystems
• Global Participation:
  • Encourages participation from millions globally, fostering a collective effort to tackle environmental issues through education, policy-making, and community initiatives.
• Sustainable Development Goals:
  • Reinforces the interconnectedness of environmental health and Sustainable Development Goals, underlining the need for integrated approaches to sustainable development.

UN Environment Programme

Founding and Mandate:

• Established in 1972 following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, UNEP's mandate is to promote global environmental sustainability and foster international cooperation on environmental issues.

Major Functions:

• UNEP's functions include assessing global environmental conditions, developing international environmental agreements, providing technical assistance to countries, and encouraging partnerships for environmental protection and sustainable development.

Key Initiatives:

• UNEP leads numerous initiatives, such as the Global Environment Outlook, the Green Economy Initiative, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, crucial for sustainable management and conservation efforts

Role in Climate Change:

• UNEP plays a significant role in addressing climate change by supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement, providing scientific assessments, and promoting renewable energy and carbon reduction strategies.

Support for Sustainable Development Goals:

• UNEP is integral to achieving the SDGs, particularly Goal 13 (Climate Action), Goal 14 (Life Below Water), and Goal 15 (Life on Land), by integrating environmental sustainability into national and international policies.

Reports given by UNEP:

• Global Environment Outlook (GEO), Emissions Gap Report, Adaptation Gap Report, Global Resources Outlook, Frontiers Report, UNEP Annual Report, Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Reports.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Establishment and Purpose:

• The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was established in 1994 with the primary objective of combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought through international cooperation and partnership.

Focus Areas:

• The UNCCD focuses on sustainable land management (SLM), restoration of degraded lands, and improving the livelihoods of affected populations.
• It aims to promote sustainable development and resilience in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas.

10-Year Strategy:

• The UNCCD adopted a 10-year strategic plan (2018-2030) aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15, which emphasizes life on land and aims to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030.

Global Mechanism:

• The Global Mechanism (GM) of the UNCCD provides financial support and resource mobilization for activities and projects aimed at combating desertification.
• It helps countries access funding from various sources, including international donors and financial institutions.

 

Key Reports and Initiatives:

• The UNCCD produces reports like the Global Land Outlook (GLO), which assesses land degradation and its impact on ecosystems and human well-being.
• Initiatives like the Great Green Wall aim to restore Africa's degraded landscapes and improve resilience against climate change.

Sources:

UNEP

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Discuss the significance of World Environment Day in raising global awareness about environmental issues. How effective has it been in promoting sustainable development practices globally?