World Environment Day To Celebrate “BIODIVERSITY” the Ecological Life Support for Human Survival
5 June is celebrated every year as World Environment Day (WED) and is the United Nations’ principal vehicle to encourage global awareness and environmental protection.
The theme for World Environment Day 2020 is “Biodiversity”. With the recent bushfires in Brazil, the United States and Australia, to locust infestations across East Africa and now, the COVID-19 pandemic across nations, the current global focus is on preserving and restoring biodiversity by demonstrating the interdependence of humans and the webs of life that sustains all life forms.
The selection of the theme every year is based on a specific environmental concern. Every year a different host country celebrates the chosen theme by highlighting the challenges it faces and supports worldwide efforts to address them. Columbia is hosting World Environment Day 2020 in partnership with Germany. Columbia is one of the largest mega-diverse nations in the world to hold 10% of the planet’s biodiversity; majority of earth’s species and high numbers of endemic species.
Last year, China was the host nation and the theme was “Beat Air Pollution” as air pollution kills millions of people annually. India was the global host of the 2018 World Environment Day with “Beat Plastic Pollution” as the theme to combat single-use plastic pollution.
The World Environment Day was established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly on the first day of the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment that resulted in discussions on the integration of human interactions and environment. After two years of discussions, the World Environment Day was first celebrated in 1974 in the city of Spokane in the USA with the theme being “Only One Earth.”
The World Environment Day is celebrated across 150 countries and has grown to become a global platform for raising worldwide awareness, public outreach and action for the protection of our environmental issues. Major businesses, corporations, non-governmental organizations, communities, governments and celebrities from across the world adopt the World Environment Day brand to advocate environmental causes.
What is “biodiversity”?
“Bio” means life and “diversity” means variety. It is the variety of life on earth including plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms, the ecosystems that house them and the genetic diversity among them. The diverse biological species are the foundation that supports life through an interdependent web for all life forms. Any loss in biodiversity will have severe implications for humanity, including the collapse of food and health systems.
With the Coronavirus COVID-19 in the backdrop, our world is rapidly changing and biodiversity is no exception. WHO draws an extensive picture of how biodiversity loss is happening at an alarming rate and if not valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used and managed, we could be looking at a direct threat to human well-being.
India ranks 8th in the world in terms of biodiversity and hosts 4 biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the Indo-Burma region and the Sundaland (includes Nicobar group of Islands). These hotspots have numerous endemic species.
Loss of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is seeing drastic changes at the hands of human activity. The main threats facing biodiversity globally is population growth (also proportional to resource consumption), climate change due to global warming, habitat fragmentation with urbanization and deforestation resulting in invasive alien species and extinction of wildlife. In addition, over-exploitation of natural resources, environmental degradation through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil, destruction of ecosystems and much more.
Conservation of Biodiversity
The need for conservation of biodiversity is important for protection of the existence of all living beings, sustainability of resources, protection of natural habitats, socio-economic development, help with study and further research including traditional medicines, fighting infectious diseases, etc. Now is the time to reconnect to all the natural systems that support our wellbeing and unite to preserve the natural world.
Significant improvements to mitigate Biodiversity loss should be driven at the local, regional and global levels involving all stakeholders. With implementation of stringent protection laws, use of science and technology, integrated policies, education, fundamental shift in human behavior, public awareness and effective monitoring, we can build the foundation for sustainable development and human wellbeing.
Recent social media reports claim of some remarkable positive effects emerging as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown related to World Environment Day. Some of the notable and significant impacts have been the improvement in air quality due to the drop in carbon emissions and reduction of greenhouse gases which will prevent serious outcomes to climate change, cleaner water bodies with improved aquatic life, spotting of wildlife venturing into areas they once avoided, and vegetation growing better because of cleaner air and water. In the midst of all this, we also see some uplifting moments with heightened community spirit, forming volunteer networks to feed the vulnerable, and in addition, following better health and hygiene, less food wastage, and learning to embrace digital technologies.
Meanwhile, the world continues to battle with the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic. With gaps in numerous linkages between human health, ecosystem services and biodiversity, it is time to focus on the underlying factors of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs). In 2015, the United Nations set 17 global goals to be achieved by the UN’s member countries in the next 15 years with a deadline of 2030. The SDG document is a blueprint to tackle global challenges, commitment to global development, various social dimensions such as poverty, hunger, disease, education and gender equity. It also acknowledges the role of biodiversity for its contribution to development including conservation and sustainable use, addressing climate change and preserving the natural environment.
There is no denying that we need a feasible global framework on biodiversity to build a sustainable planet. The need to urgently focus on preserving and sustainably managing biodiversity is required for mitigating climate disruption, guaranteeing water and food access and even preventing pandemics.
Due to COVID-19 lockdown, the World Environment day 2020 celebrations will be via its first-ever online campaign and activities to promote environmental protection and awareness.
HAPPY WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY!