ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is all set to host the World Environment Day 2021 in partnership with the UN Environment Programme today.
The news was announced by the Minister of Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on the margins of the virtual 5th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5). He joined UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen to acknowledge the urgency of preventing and halting the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.
The Pakistani government plans to expand and restore the country’s forests through a ’10 Billion Tree Tsunami’ spread over five years. The campaign includes restoring mangroves and forests, as well as planting trees in urban settings, including schools, colleges, and public parks.
The day which is observed every year on 5th June promotes worldwide awareness and action for the environment. This year’s observance of World Environment Day will be on the theme of ‘ecosystem restoration’ and focus on resetting the country’s relationship with nature. It will also mark the formal launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021 to 2030.
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In this regard, Pakistan has launched Eco-System Restoration Fund for supporting a nature-based solution to climate change, facilitating the transition towards environmentally resilient ecologically targeted initiatives covering afforestation and biodiversity conservation.
Recently, the prime minister launched the Protected Area Initiative to develop 15 model protected areas across the country to conserve over 7300 sq km of land area and create over 5,500 green jobs.
