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World Environment Day 2008 theme -
"CO2 Kick the Habit".
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World Environment
Day 2008, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.
This year focus is kept on 'climate change and low carbon economies,' as the “climate change” is going to be the definite issue of the
era.
To keep solutions and the opportunities at the core of agenda for countries,
companies and communities to kick the habit and de-carbonise their economies and
life-styles, the slogan for 2008 has been selected after much deliberations as
“Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy.”
The United Nations urged the world on Thursday to kick an all-consuming addiction to carbon dioxide and said everyone must take steps to
fight climate change. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said global warming was becoming the defining
issue of the era and will hurt rich and poor alike.
"Our world is in the grip of a dangerous carbon habit," Ban said in a statement
to mark World Environment Day, which is being marked by events around the globe
and hosted by the New Zealand city of Wellington.
"Addiction is a terrible thing. It consumes and controls us, makes us deny
important truths and blinds us to the consequences of our actions," he said in
the speech to reinforce this year's World Environment Day theme of
"CO2 Kick the Habit".
"Whether you are an individual, an organization, a business or a government,
there are many steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. It is a
message we all must take to heart," he said.
The World Environment Day will also highlight resources and initiatives that
promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and
eco- friendly consumption.
On this day Prime Ministers, Ministers of Environment and other significant
dignitaries deliver statements and commit themselves to care for the Earth.
Serious pledges are made to lead the establishment of permanent governmental
structures dealing with environmental management and economic planning. |
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The topic for World Environment Day for 2007 is "Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?" During International Polar Year, WED 2007 focuses on the effects that climate
change is having on polar ecosystems and communities, on other ice- and
snow-covered areas of the world, and the resulting global impacts. The main international celebrations of the WED 2007 will be held in the City of
Tromsø, Norway, a city north of the Arctic Circle self-styled as "The Gateway to the Arctic".
The UNEP statement on WED 2007 states:
The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more
prosperous future. World Environment Day is a people's event with colourful activities such as street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essays and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns. |
The Himalya
ice is melting due to global warming.
The topic for World Environment Day for 2007 is "Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?" |
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World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of
UNEP.
On this World Environment Day, let us examine the state of our environment. Let us consider carefully the actions which each of us must take, and then address ourselves to our common task of preserving all life on earth in a mood of sober resolution and quiet confidence. |
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