June fifth is important as it is the World Environment Day (WED) and my sister’s birthday (Joyeux anniversaire !). But since you don’t care that much about one event let’s talk about the other…
The WED is one of the main opportunities for the United Nations Environment Programme to promote environmentally friendly behaviors and climate change mitigation.
This year it launches a campaign called ” Kick the habit ” which shows that cutting our carbon dioxide emissions is not that hard and can be done in a variety of ways.
As the United Nation Environment Program’s website states :
World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.
The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. Recognizing that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, UNEP is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them.
The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.
(…) The day’s agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
The UNEP proposes an array of ideas that will help you in decreasing your carbon dioxide emissions. From 12 steps (see below) to an alphabet packed with ideas, it is willing to empower people like you and I to build a better world.
Here are twelve steps you might be willing to follow :
- Make a commitment ;
- Assess where you stand ;
- Decide and plan where you want to go ;
- De-carbon your life ;
- Get energy efficient ;
- Switch to low carbon energy ;
- Invest in offsets and cleaner alternatives ;
- Get efficient ;
- Offer—or buy—low carbon products and services ;
- Buy green, sell green ;
- Team up ;
- Talk.
I hope you liked this article. If you want to discuss on the WED, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.