UNEP at Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 in Dubai, themed as “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, opens to the public on 1 October 2021 and ends on 31 March 2022. As the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, and the largest Expo ever, it will host over 200 pavilions, including 192 national pavilions, many of which are joint endeavours of governments and key private sector stakeholders from their country. Expo forecasts 25 million visits, with 70% of whom are expected to be from outside of the United Arab Emirates. World Expos play a unique role in convening a global stage for new ideas and technologies, engaging people, and spurring support for global priorities across national boundaries.

Expo 2020 Dubai aspires to deliver one of the most sustainable World Expos ever. To achieve this ambitious goal, sustainability is not only one of the official themes of the Expo, along with Opportunity and Mobility, but it is being integrated into all aspects of Expo 2020, while also creating a meaningful impact beyond the six months of Expo and inspiring millions of visitors and followers to reaffirm their commitment to the environment.

The goals of Expo 2020 complements the work of UNEP in many ways: a desire to engage and inspire all visitors – governments, civil society, the private sector and academia, as well as millions of individuals – to seek solutions to the issues we all face, including biodiversity and climate change, and to build the future we all want and deserve.

Cooperation for peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

The UN at EXPO 2020 will engage in a series of events and activities that reflect the values of multilateralism and international cooperation to overcome global challenges, such as COVID-19, climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).

UNEP is the leading agency for the celebration of World Wildlife Day (3 March 2022)

Being a core element of the Expo theme, the meaning of ‘harmony’, particularly in the context of wildlife, implies a strong sense of circularity. The reason that biodiversity is extremely important to preserve is that any hindrance of other species on earth only negatively impacts humans. According to a UN report released in May 2019, “Nearly a quarter of all species are presently at risk of going extinct in the coming decades, and their demise would only speed up the disappearance of countless others, putting us in danger as well”. If ecosystems and natural habitats are not adequately protected, it can severely impact the availability of essential resources for much of the world’s population. In some global economies, particularly in countries where the tourism market is based on wildlife, a lack of biodiversity can negatively impact the livelihoods of individuals and the overall national GDP. Thus, it is essential that human activity is in complete harmony with the world’s wildlife, especially as the global population rises and dependency increases.   

The objectives of this Day organized in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) are to:

• Engage EXPO visitors who, through the various initiatives around the celebration of the Day, will discover the importance of wildlife for the sustainable development of the planet, understand the threats that can lead to the extinction of many endangered species, be better informed about the status of wildlife and wildlife products, feel empowered to make individual choices that don’t threaten species such as not buying products from wildlife protected by law and by supporting companies that demonstrate sustainable supply chains and environmentally responsible policies.
• Engage policy makers, who can support governments and local communities to tackle the illegal trade in wildlife, and other stakeholders, with a priority towards youth, who can help spread the word and encourage others to get better informed.

#UNHub

Mission Possible - Opportunity Pavilion

The UN Hub is ideally located in the Mission Possible – Opportunity Pavilion, the thematic pavilion that examines how to unlock the potential of individuals and communities in creating positive change for people and planet. The UN is planning a series of events and activities that reflect the values of multilateralism and showcase the role of international cooperation and joint actions to overcome global challenges, such as COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, and achieve the SDGs. Live events at the UN Hub will engage visitors of all ages, cultures and backgrounds through an array of immersive experiences, interactive exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, advocacy campaigns, cultural performances and installations, as well as through dialogues and conversations around topics related to the SDGs and beyond.

Kaleidoscope project

Another main feature will be the large architectural projections for 4 hours every night across the Expo site. In partnership with Project Kaleidoscope, UNEP is creating an immersive visitor experience during the expo night where illumination, large scale projections and light installations are punctuated with elements of surprise. So far, four thematic nights have been identified as UNEP's contribution: wildlife, coral, ocean, sustainable energy and women. This selection is based on the availability of very high res footage and impressive imageries. A presentation including a map and live test is available.