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Ecosystems are under attack everywhere in the world. The natural areas that are essential to human existence—from farms and lakes to woods and drylands—are drawing closer to their breaking point. Half of the world's population is directly impacted by up to 40% of the planet's land being degraded, according to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Since 2000, the frequency and length of droughts have grown by 29%; in the absence of immediate action, by 2050, droughts might affect more than 75% of the world's population.
One of the main tenets of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) is land restoration. This initiative calls for the global preservation and revitalization of ecosystems, which is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Because of this, the theme of World Environment Day (2024) is "Our land," emphasizing land restoration, stopping desertification, and increasing drought resilience. Our next step. #GenerationRestoration is who we are. While time cannot be stopped, we can regenerate soils, develop forests, and restore water sources. Our generation has the ability to live in harmony with the land.
World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5 since 1973 and organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is a global public outreach platform for environmental issues that is widely observed by millions of people. Saudi Arabia is hosting it in 2024.
When: 5 June 2024
Theme: Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience
Host: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day 2024 with a focus on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.
Source: UN DESA