Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 05, 2021 (SKNIS): The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis joined the rest of the world to observe World Environment Day 2021, which is celebrated on June 05 annually. This year’s observance is held under the global theme “Ecosystem Restoration” with a focus on restoring our relationship with nature.
During his address to mark the occasion, Minister of Environment, the Honourable Eric Evelyn, said that World Environment Day 2021, also paves the way for the formal launch of the United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, a global mission to revive billions of hectares, from forests to farmlands, from the top of mountains to the depth of the sea.
“The UN Decade is intended to massively scale up the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems to fight the climate crisis, prevent the loss of a million species and enhance food security, water supply, and livelihoods,” said Minister Evelyn, adding that “ecosystem restoration can take many forms: Growing trees, greening cities, rewilding gardens, changing diets or cleaning up rivers and coasts. This is the generation that can make peace with nature.”
Minister Evelyn outlined several ways the general public can help to restore ecosystems. These include but are not limited to the planting of more trees; growing a garden (vegetable or ornamentals) especially fruit trees; organizing community cleanups; reducing the use of plastics that pollute the terrestrial and marine environment and reducing the excessive burning of fires.
World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 annually to encourage awareness and environmental protection. According to the United Nations, “the celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises, and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.
The day is celebrated by engaging governments, businesses, celebrities, and citizens to focus their efforts on a pressing environmental issue.
Every year, the Department of Environment uses the month of June to raise awareness on how human impacts are negatively impacting the environment. The department organizes activities centered on the theme chosen by the United Nations for World Environment Day, which has been recognized by the UN since 1974 and is globally celebrated and hosted by a different country annually. This year, Pakistan will host the event.
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS OBSERVES WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2021 UNDER THE GLOBAL THEME ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION
