Environment is one such thing that we all connect with that. We all know that Environment is all that is around us is called and included in the term environment. This environment affects us physically, mentally, and even spiritually. I am very glad to write this article on the occasion of World Environment Day i.e. 5th June, 2021.

Word Environment Day is one such very important day that we all should observe and celebrate. By showing our commitment, discipline and observance towards saving our environment shall be part of our daily lives, not just only on one particular day.

In 1972, the UN General Assembly designated 5 June as World Environment Day (WED). The first celebration, under the slogan “Only One Earth” took place in 1974. In the following years, WED has developed a platform to raise awareness on the problems facing our environment such as air pollution, plastic pollution, illegal wildlife trade, sustainable consumption, sea-level increase, and food security, among others. Furthermore, WED helps drive change in consumption patterns and in national and international environmental policy.

Coming from 1974 to 2021, the theme for World Environment Day 2021 is “Ecosystem Restoration” and we all will see the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Just to share that Ecosystem restoration can take many forms: Growing trees, greening cities, rewilding gardens, changing diets or cleaning up rivers and coasts. This generation can make peace with nature.

However, we all should introspect if it is necessary to save and preserve our precious Environment? Considering the various ecological disturbances that we have been witnessing over the years in the past and also the amount of rapid urbanization/industrialization we are seeing, it is highly imperative that we are having onus on us to preserve, protect this Environment for the Generations to come.

To further brief about this year theme, Ecosystem restoration means assisting in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded or destroyed, as well as conserving the ecosystems that are still intact. Healthier ecosystems, with richer biodiversity, yield greater benefits such as more fertile soils, bigger yields of timber and fish, and larger stores of greenhouse gases.

As a pro-active way, we all must inculcate strict discipline in our lives and behavior to practice the above that will further help to preserve the eco system. However, we all see very peculiar behavior of human beings is that as a part of doing something, people keep their surroundings clean; however their behavior can be seen by looking at the waste on the roads, on beaches, etc. In line with the Theme, myself and my brother pledged ourselves to do a bit on my part to clean the beach in front of house on 4th June, 2021 and also we are successful in encouraging our friends and well-wishers in our neighborhood in joining this community drive. I am very much thankful to all of them who joined today in this Campaign. This small step I believe certainly will help in the recovery of ecosystem that has been damaged.

I also encourage all my fellow human beings to plant trees widely whose benefits are simply great. In fact we all experienced the value of Oxygen while tacking current pandemic COVID-19.

I sincerely congratulate UNEP for widespread awareness and campaign for WED and I sincerely thank our neighboring nation i.e. Pakistan for hosting this year WED. The Government of Pakistan 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, public parks and green belts.

I end my article by highlighting countless benefits of Environment that we enjoy which cannot repay our entire life. Come and let us pledge ourselves to preserve and protect our Environment in letter and spirit.

You cannot change your future, but you can change your habits, and surely your habits will change your future – APJ Abdul Kalam