The theme for World Environment Day 2021 has announce as 'Ecosystem Restoration' and Pakistan has been picked up by the United Nations to play the global host of the observance that took off officially in 1974 for the first time. This year, the focus will be on making peace with nature.
Also, on the occasion of the observance on June 5, the UN will launch of the 'Decade on Ecosystem Restoration'. According to the UN, ecosystem restoration can take many forms as follows:
· Growing trees
· Greening cities,
· Re-wilding gardens
· Changing diets and life style
· Cleaning up rivers and coasts
World Environment Day is meant to enhance awareness about the urgency to protect our environment and urge action on serious issues as highlighted by the UN such as 'global warming, marine pollution, human over-population, protection of wildlife, and sustainable consumption.'
It would be pertinent to protect Earth from coronavirus and existential threat of climate disruption as was urged by the UN chief António Guterres on Mother Earth Day 2020.
He had stated “We must act decisively to protect our planet from both the coronavirus and the existential threat of climate disruption.”
UN deems that Mother Earth is clearly urging a call to action since Nature is suffering and sending warnings through Australian fires; rising heat records; the worst locust invasion in Kenya; and COVID -19 pandemic. All these have a ‘worldwide health pandemic link to the health of our ecosystem.’
“Climate change, man-made changes to nature as well as crimes that disrupt biodiversity, such as deforestation, land-use change, intensified agriculture and livestock production or the growing illegal wildlife trade, can increase contact and the transmission of infectious diseases from animals to humans (zoonotic diseases) like COVID-19,” informs UN website.
Lessons to be learned from the present crisis as per the UN:
• From one new infection disease that emerges in humans every 4 months, 75% of these emerging diseases come from animals, according to UN Environment. This shows the close relationships between human, animal and environmental health.
• Visible, positive impact– whether through improved air quality or reduced greenhouse gas emissions – are but temporary, because they come on the back of tragic economic slowdown and human distress.
It has been urged that we need a shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet by promoting harmony and peace with nature and the Earth.
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