Pakistan to host World Environment Day

Pakistan announced last week that it will host World Environment Day (WED) 2021 in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

This year’s observance of World Environment Day will be on the theme ‘ecosystem restoration’ and focus on resetting our relationship with nature. It will also mark the formal launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.

World Environment Day takes place every year on June 5. It is the United Nations’ flagship day for promoting worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Over the years, it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world.

Making the announcement on the margins of the virtual Fifth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), Pakistan’s Adviser to Prime Minister and Minister of Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam, joined UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen, to acknowledge the urgency of preventing, halting, and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.

Led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Government of Pakistan – in one of the world’s most ambitious afforestation efforts – plans to expand and restore the country’s forests through a 10 billion Tree Tsunami spread over five years.

As host of WED, Pakistan will highlight environmental issues and showcase the country’s own initiatives and its role in global efforts. The day will be celebrated across the world through various events and activities, in line with the latest COVID-19 regulations.