What is World Environment Day? Why is it celebrated?

World Environment Day is observed on June 5 around the globe, led by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) since 1973, to raise awareness about the critical issues plaguing the landscape of the earth, such as climate change, including the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, desertification, toxic chemicals, etc..

Host Country and Theme

World Environment Day is observed every year with a specific slogan and theme representing a major environmental issue. In 2024, this honor has been given to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it will be hosting World Environmental Day under the slogan, ‘Our land, our future. We are generation restoration’, targeting the most threatening issues with the theme of land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.

Land Degradation and Droughts

Degradation of land is indeed a threat to the basic survival foundations such as biodiversity, community resilience, and food security. Along with this, another concern is the increase in droughts. Because droughts are not only putting agriculture and water resources at risk but also amplifying inflation.

And before it's too late, we, as a community, must take giant leaps to tackle these environmental challenges. Enhancing water efficiency, promoting soil conservation, and investing in drought-resistant technologies can help overcome these alarming issues.

But now the question arises: how can we play our part in creating a massive impact for such a major alarming challenge? In this article, we will be discussing five steps that can be taken right away by citizens, the government, policymakers, and authorities to avoid further environmental destruction.

5 Ways to overcome land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience:

Here are five steps that can be taken this year, 2024, on World Environment Day to save the future of our generations from daunting environmental hazards

1.      Sustainability of the agriculture sector

Do you know around 2 billion people depend on agriculture for livelihood? Hence, the agriculture sector needs to be focused on right away. Otherwise, things can get terrifying. Sustainability in the agriculture sector can be easily maintained, by implementing regenerative agriculture to increase food production, preservation of the ecosystem, use of sustainable farming methods, and the right quality and quantity of pesticides. Another important step that must be taken at the individual level is embracing the use of seasonal, regional, and plant-based diets in our meals and avoiding processed food.

2.      Save soil

Around 60 percent of all species live in soil, and 95 percent of the food we consume is produced from it. Therefore, no compromise should be made on its quality. Organic and soil-friendly farming should be introduced, and zero tillage techniques should be opted for. It is a technique that avoids soil erosion and maintains soil quality in which no or minimal soil is disturbed in the field before the plantation of the next crop. It can be achieved by using techniques like precision agriculture or direct seeding in the absence of tillage in the soil helps preserve soil structure, and enhances nutrient retention in soil. Soil moisture levels should be maintained by using irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation or mulching. At the individual level, we can compost fruit and vegetables over scraps in our gardening pots.

3.      Sustainability of fresh ecosystems

Water cycles are disappearing day by day due to high rates of pollution, overfishing, climate change, and extraction. Therefore, the sustainability of Fresh water ecosystems should be the center of focus for the authorities. Water cycles that keep the land fertile should be introduced as they supply food and water to the billions of people living on earth, are a habitat for animals and plants, and also protect us from floods and droughts.

4.      Urban Cities

Urban forests can play a vital role in controlling climate change. They can improve the air quality, reduce the need for mechanical cooling and plantation of more plants mean more shade in the scorching sun heat. Preservation of the city’s water bodies, such as canals, ponds, lakes etc can alleviate heatwaves and increase biodiversity. Similarly, the installation of roofs and vertical gardens in buildings can ultimately reduce the concern about the extinction of plants and birds due to heat.

5.      Fund Raise and Investments.

The government and private sectors should raise funds and invest in the right modules for ecosystem restoration. Efficient waste management systems should be sustained along with huge investments in social enterprises should be made that focus on sustainable agriculture, green technology, and eco-tourism. The government should take major actions for the installation of solar panels in industries, residential, and commercial areas and should create awareness of the hazards of CFC gases produced by cooling machines. Transportation sectors should be facilitated with funds for normalizing the use of public transportation and avoidance of personal cars that emit a large amount of poisonous gases into the atmosphere.

3 Top Must-Read Books on World Environment Day

Among the countless books on environmental problems and climate change here are our top three recommendations for you.

Water – Energy – Carbon Systems

An educational book written by ‘Philemon Chigeza’ is perfect for World Environment Day. From sustainable management strategies for water and energy to the reliable management of carbon systems, this book inspires the young generation to devote their careers to the circular economy and is of great interest to environmentalists, policymakers, and educators.

The Amazing Wildlife in the Prince Albert National Park

An enthralling yet informative book for your inner critic that will amaze you with the extraordinary wildlife that lives in the Prince Albert National Park. The narrator emphasizes that no matter how many hours he has to spend watching the amazing wildlife, every minute is worth spending for such an amusing view.

Who Is Mother Nature and Where Did She Go?

Delve into the nourishing tale of respect, care, and a sense of responsibility towards Earth. This book teaches us the importance of protecting the earth and creates a strive in readers to understand the alarming issues and their effects on the land we live on.

A Final Call for Action

What if one day you wake up and there is no water, no food, no shade to get under, people are dying at every corner due to the excessive heat, all the species living in waterbodies are near to extinction, you can do nothing to escape from the miserable heat and have no clue what to do? Isn’t it a horrible scenario? If even for a second you got terrified of this vision, then, this is high time to take significant actions to avoid this situation from becoming your reality.

What can you do?

On this World Environment Day, take a small action towards overcoming climate change. Click a picture of yourself while planting trees or creating awareness among people on climate change with the "Our Land. Our Future. We are Generation Restoration" slogan and do not forget to tag us.

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