UNESCO MESSAGE ON OCCASION OF WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

Paris, June 1 (No.2001-76) - “Connect with the World Wide Web of Life” is the theme chosen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for this year’s World Environment Day, June 5. As the Organization in charge of science and education, UNESCO is involved in this theme, as it seeks to foster study, experience-sharing and awareness about our fragile environment.

As life-sustaining systems come under growing pressure from human activity, it is essential, indeed vital, that all contribute to reducing the causes of global warming, pollution, fresh water scarcity and loss of biodiversity. The future of humankind is inexorably linked to that of plants, animals and ecosystems, to our global biodiversity.

UNESCO seeks to contribute to our understanding of the natural world and its processes, through its scientific and environment-related programmes. Its 393 Biosphere Reserves in 94 countries are thus a valuable network of laboratories where best practices towards sustainable development are implemented and studied in close co-operation with governments and civil society. As an educational Organization, UNESCO also seeks to promote environmental education at all levels of schooling, formal and non-formal.

While governments can provide a framework for sustainable development that preserves the ecological capital of the world, each and everyone of us can contribute to the preservation of our environment. World Environment Day is an occasion for us to realize that we are all permanently connected to the World Wide Web of Life. Let us strive to understand it and to respect it. Our future depends on it.

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