This year's June 5 World Environment Day (WED)celebrations will be hosted by Mexico, a reflection of the growing role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the carbon markets, Writes Simba Nembaware
Mexico is also a leading partner in UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign. The country, with the support of its President and people, has spearheaded the pledging and planting of some 25 per cent of the trees under the campaign. Accounting for around 1.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country is demonstrating its commitment to climate change on several fronts.
The United Nations Environment Programme quoted Mexican President Felipe Calderon stating that the WED celebration will “further underline Mexico's determination to manage natural resources and deal with the most demanding challenge of the 21st century – climate change.”
Commemorated yearly on 5 June, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The day's agenda includes giving a human face to environmental issues through empowering people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promoting an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues;and advocating partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
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.
Mexico, the host country, will organize a series of events in Quintana Roo, in the Yucatan Province. Highlights include a conference on the Green Economy with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mexico's Environment Secretary Juan Elvira Quesada, and Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
There will also be photo exhibits, an art competition, a Maya 'Healing the Earth' ceremony, and a Symphonic Visual Concert entitled 'The Shield of Nature' by the Philharmonic Choir and World Heritage Orchestra.
Its pleasing to note that developing countries are not only participating but leading such events because it is us in the third world who suffer more despite the obvious fact that we contribute almost nothing to global warming
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