World Environment Day celebrations across Asia: Here’s what’s happening

Hunza valley, Pakistan
Hunza Valley, Hunza, Pakistan. Photo: Mehtab Farooq/Unsplash

With Pakistan hosting this year’s World Environment Day on June 5, Asia is taking a leading role in this annual celebration of our planet and its diverse and precious ecosystems. Here’s a small selection of some of the events taking place in the region:

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Antoinette Taus’ foundation CORA launched a new campaign to encourage ASEAN citizens to take a more active role in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. Check out the campaign here.

CORA has also launched the WoMangrove Warriors Program, which empowers women who plant, nurture and restore mangroves in Leyte, Philippines

In India, the main commemoration has been organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and features a keynote address from the Minister. It’s happening online at 10 am on June 5.

You can join here

Meeting number: 184 397 4534

Password: 316511

On June 5, you can also tune in to a live chat between representatives from UNEP India, the UN Development Programme and Indian innovator and engineer Sonam Wangchuk. It’s happening at 5 pm India time. Follow the discussion live here.

And from June 4-5, India will host a World Sustainability Summit 2021 -- Roadmap for Ecosystem Restoration through Industry and Innovation. Organised by The Policy Times & Indus International Research Foundation (IIRF), Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC); Indian Plastics Institute & MRAI, you can register for this event here.

In China, the head of UNEP’s China office and the Vice Chairman of Bytedance Public Welfare Foundation jointly launched UNEP’s account on the Douyin social media platform this week. They also launched the Snap Challenge and ‘Nature Test’ stickers (Nature Test will be available on Douyin platform on 5 June).

Bytedance also released the Ecosystem Restoration Short-Video Guide.

In Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority, in collaboration with UNEP, has launched a 360 virtual exhibition, showcasing the city’s green plans and inviting people to participate in activities to raise awareness of environmental issues with souvenirs and prizes available.

Check it out here.

And on June 8, Indonesia will host a panel discussion on forests, peatlands and seas, organised by UNEP Indonesia and UNDP Indonesia. Register here.

Check out our World Environment Day website to learn more about celebrations all around the world. And join in by becoming part of #GenerationRestoration.