World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5th to highlight the pressing environmental challenges of our time.
This year’s theme is Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. UN Convention to Combat Desertification, states that approximately 40% of the Earth’s land is degraded, impacting directly around half of the global population.
Through World Environment Day and through hosting the UN Convention to Combat Desertification’s conference of the parties this December, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can build momentum and action towards these restoration goals, slow climate change, protect nature and boost the livelihoods and food security of billions of people around the world.
..UNEP chief Inger Andersen said.
According to a video released by United Nations, over 75% of humanity will face drought. Climate change, driven primarily by human activities such as burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. This phenomenon is a major contributor to the increasing frequency and severity of droughts.
The Panama Canal’s struggle with drought offers a tangible example of the global implications of environmental challenges like desertification and drought. The Panama Canal is a strategically important artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The construction of the Panama Canal was a monumental engineering achievement. It began under French leadership in the late 19th century.
Shipping sector
As we focus on environmental challenges, it’s crucial to address the significant impact of marine pollution. A new study led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory has revealed five high-risk zones where floating plastic litter poses the greatest risk to North Atlantic marine life. According to the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, marine plastic litter is a truly global pollution problem.
Land-based sources of plastic account for about 80% of plastic pollution in the marine environment, with single-use items such as plastic bags, bottles, wrappers, food containers, and cutlery being the most common items found.
Furthermore, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the ocean plays a crucial role in the health of our natural environment, both onshore and offshore. It produces much of the oxygen we breathe and helps regulate the climate. The ocean is also fundamental to Australia’s prosperity, facilitating a thriving trade industry, providing the food we eat, and supporting tourism and recreation.
Additionally, the UN Environment Program emphasizes that Asia and the Pacific region are exceptionally rich in biodiversity. However, land-use changes and land degradation caused by extensive agriculture, deforestation, and unmanaged urbanization are significantly reducing the biodiversity of many land ecosystems.
Furthermore, Conservation International had published a powerful video featuring a message from Mother Nature herself:
“I have been here for over 4.5 billion years. I don’t really need people. But people need me. Your future depends on me. When I thrive, you thrive. When I falter, you falter. Or worse. I have fed species greater than you and I have starved species greater than you. My oceans, my forests—how you choose to live every day, whether you regard or disregard me, doesn’t really matter to me. One way or the other, your actions will determine your fate, not mine. I am nature.”
