Embassy of the United States Seoul Korea

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

Commemorated yearly on 5 June, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

Through WED, we are able to give a human face to environmental issues and enable people to realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.

WED is also a day for advocating partnerships among all stakeholders or perhaps, even more correctly, among all species living on this one planet and sharing a common future.

Full Article: http://www.unep.org/wed/2010/english/

Secretary Clinton's Remarks on World Environment Day

Washington, DC
June 5, 2010

The United States is proud to join with the international community to mark June 5 as World Environment Day, as we have since 1973. And I note with pleasure the selection of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as North American Host City, reaffirming its leadership in regional innovation and in the transformation to a greener economy.

This year's commemoration is more important than ever as we face unprecedented environmental challenges that threaten our planet’s natural resources and biodiversity.

Today, the United States is learning firsthand how fragile our ecosystems are and how quickly a treasured landscape can become endangered. As President Obama recently stated, protecting the earth’s biodiversity, be it in the Gulf of Mexico or elsewhere, is a responsibility all of us share.

The urgency and scope of our shared responsibility is reflected in this year’s theme, “Many species, one planet, one future.”

Its is also reflected in the commitment of the United States to building global partnerships to preserve the earth’s rich biodiversity. From protecting the forests in the Congo Basin in central Africa to preserving the coral reefs in Southeast Asia, we are working together to meet our shared challenges. We are strengthening partnerships such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) and working to build similar networks in Central America and South Asia.

While we have learned a great deal about environmental conservation since the first World Environment Day 38 years ago, there is much more for us to learn and do. Let us individually and collectively redouble our efforts to protect the environment, for the benefit of generations to come.

 A Timeline of Environmental Treaties

This list of key environmental treaties shows how nations are working together, politically and scientifically, to safeguard our planet and respond to a global threat. The United States, whose pollution control laws serve as models for other nations, remains a leader in identifying, mitigating and remediating environmental hazards.

 Scientists Say Global Warming Affects Marine Life

Narragansett, Rhode Island — In Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, winter flounder no longer reproduce at the rate they used to. Nutrients that once supported a rich marine life are less abundant. And the water is warmer. It suffers from overfishing and shows signs of toxic chemicals banned 50 years ago. In short, say scientists at the University of Rhode Island, Narragansett Bay is typical of other coastal areas around the world.

 Coral Triangle Initiative

The Coral Triangle, located along the equator at the confluence of the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, is home to the most diverse marine communities on earth. The number and biodiversity of the ecosystems found in its nearly 6 million square kilometers of ocean and coastal waters are unparalleled. Today, this unique resource is threatened by human and environmental impacts, including global climate change. In response, the six nations of the Coral Triangle — Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste — recently joined in a partnership, the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), pledging to protect the area’s resources for future generations.

Wetlands: Sustaining Biodiversity

Wetlands — marshes, swamps, bogs, vernal pools, flood plains and other wet habitats — are areas of the Earth that are saturated by water during all or part of the year. They are found in every part of the world and in every climate. Interior wetlands are located where surface water collects or where underground water rises to the surface. Coastal wetlands are created by tides.

Forecasts Show How Changing Environment Might Affect Life

Ecological forecasts - a critical new tool for resource managers on a planet whose climate is warming - predict the effects of biological, chemical and physical changes in the environment on ecosystems that support the existence of life on Earth.

21st-Century Agriculture
(March 2010)
English

Humanity's longest struggle has been to feed itself. This eJournal USA explores how 21st-century technical prowess and agricultural skill hold the key to feeding the growing populations of the future.

Climate Change Perspectives
(September 2009)
English

This eJournal USA offers perspectives of experts and activists in several key countries on effective policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate global warming and adapt to irreversible changes, and features an introduction by U.S. special envoy Todd Stern.

 Rachel Carson: Pen Against Poison
English

Rachel Carson was a quiet woman who stirred extraordinary controversy that persists decades after her death. Her 1962 book Silent Spring brought worldwide attention to the harm to human health and the environment wrought by mishandling of a powerful pesticide, fomenting the environmental movement. In the 100th anniversary year of Carson's birth, this publication examines how occasionally in history a book with a powerful idea can bring about peaceful but dramatic change in a democratic society.

  Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Fish and Wildlife Service; Department of the Interior

The notice is a yearly appraisal of the current status of plants and animals that are candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Two species have been removed from candidate status, one species has been added, and 11 have a change in priority from the last review in December 2007. There are now 251 species recognized by the Service as candidates for ESA protection.

 The Effects of Climate Change on U.S. Ecosystems.  U.S. Department of Agriculture, December 2009

The report provides an accessible summary of findings contained in a U.S. scientific assessment project. Based on a wealth of source and review literature, the report concludes that climate change is already affecting U.S. agriculture, land resources, water resources, and biodiversity, and will continue to do so. The report identifies the effects climate is having and is expected to have on natural resources and ecosystems services in the U.S. over the next several decades.

 Many Species. One Planet. One Future. United Nations Environment Programme

The theme of WED 2010 is “Many Species. One Planet. One Future.” It echoes the urgent call to conserve the diversity of life on our planet.  A world without biodiversity is a very bleak prospect. Millions of people and millions of species all share the same planet, and only together can we enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

 

 

White House: Environment
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/

U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
http://www.state.gov/g/oes/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/

U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs
http://www.america.gov/global/environ.html

UN Environment Programme: World Environment Day 2010
http://www.unep.org/wed/2010/english/