Europe's city hubs for WED 2010 announced12 May 2010 While thousands of WED 2010 events are planned around the world under the rallying cry ‘Many Species, One Planet, One Future’ – including in the global host country, Rwanda – three city hubs will lead Europe’s celebrations. Marked annually on 5 June, WED is a day for everyone on the planet to ‘go green’ and encourage greater attention and action on the environment from individuals, organizations and governments. From an open day at the park of the Palais des Nations in Geneva to a tree planting event in Baku and three days of conferences in Genova, the activities planned in each city reflect the diversity of ways communities can unite to better manage the world’s wealth of species and ecosystems, said UNEP’s Officer-in-Charge for Europe, Gaetano Leone. “World Environment Day is recognized as a grass roots expression of people’s desire to realize meaningful and positive environmental change, and we welcome the wide participation of communities from Europe to Central Asia,” added Mr. Leone.. The details of planned WED activities in Europe and around the world are available on the official website at: www.unep.org/wed.
The Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, Sergei Ordzhonikidze, said the activities on 5 June would be an opportunity to showcase how the UN works for the environment in Geneva and across the globe. “We all have a responsibility to protect and conserve our environment. We want to use World Environment Day to engage everybody in that effort,” said Mr. Ordzhonikidze.
The President of Azerbaijan has declared 2010 the Year of the Environment for Green Earth and World Environment Day will be marked by a major public tree planting event in the capital, Baku, on 3 June. According to Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Hussein Bagirov, the country could witness promising examples of comprehensive action aimed at environmental protection, but much more should be done. “From now on we need everyone to be actively involved in the process of environmental protection in all sectors of society: businesses, communities, schools and of course human behavior,” Mr. Bagirov said. “Our planet is facing enormous environmental threats. We, the citizens of the world, should unite our efforts to address the challenges now. We shouldn’t wait until the crisis wakes us to reality,” the minister said. Meanwhile, amongst the hundreds of other WED 2010 events planned across Europe, the highlights of major celebrations planned for the northern Italian city of Genova include conferences on biodiversity and waste management. The Mayor of Genova, Marta Vincenzi, said the city’s active involvement in WED is linked to Genova’s focus on environmental sustainability and how, as a sustainable city-port, it was addressing water conservation and new energy sector challenges while considering people’s quality of life. “Genova aims to become the garden of Europe and the city of biodiversity: a meeting point for different cultures, different experiences and different people,” Mayor Vincenzi said. “Our agenda is to empower people – young people above all – to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote environmental protection both as an opportunity, a natural wealth and a strategic choice towards a safer and more prosperous future,” Ms. Vincenzi added. WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN promotes awareness of the environment and encourages widespread attention and action from everyone – from schoolchildren to presidents and from community groups to multinational corporations. Anyone planning an activity to mark WED is urged to register the details in any language on the website at www.unep.org/wed/2010/english/aroundtheworld.asp. For every activity registered on the WED 2010 website, US$10 will go to Gorilla Conservation in the host country of Rwanda, leaving a legacy from the global WED community! Media contacts: UNEP Geneva – Diana Rizzolio, Geneva Environment Network, +41 22 917 8222 or diana.rizzolio@unep.org Genova – Comune di Genova Press Office, +39 010 557 2277 or comustampa@comune.genova.it Highlights of WED 2010 events in Europe: 28 May – One day symposium: “Environment Day Talks 10: VALUES of Diversity”, Vienna International Centre. Registration is free. More than 200 participants expected. 31 May-7 June – Riciclo art installation made of used straws (to promote recycling), Piazza Matteotti Square, Palazzo Ducale, Genova. Free to the public. 3 June – Major tree planting event in Baku and a tour of a nature reserve south of the capital involving Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Hussein Bagirov. 4 June – (10:00-12:00): WED 2010 Roundtable on Biodiversity, organised by the Geneva Environment Network at International Environment House, Geneva. It will feature the Secretary-General of CITES, John Scanlon; the Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention, Anada Tiéga; the Head of the UN-REDD Secretariat, Yemi Katerere and a representative from the Swiss Federal Office for Environment. 5 June - The UN Office at Geneva, UNEP, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and a number of other UN agencies will join with the City of Geneva, corporations and non-governmental organizations to stage a major celebration centered around the park of the Palais des Nations, Place des Nations and WIPO office. A multitude of activities are planned for people of all ages, including the inauguration of a guided nature trail in the 46-hectare park, concerts, shows and dances. 5 June – Biodiversity Conference jointly staged by the City of Genova and the Genova Aquarium. Further information: WED 2010 in Geneva: www.journeeverteonugeneve.org
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At the UN offices in Geneva, the UN family will come together with local authorities, community groups, corporations and local residents for the city’s largest ever WED celebration which will include information stalls, family activities and the launch of a guided nature trail in the 46-hectare park around the Palais des Nations.
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UNEP WED Celebrations Worldwide - Europe - North America - Korea |
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