GENEVA, June 3rd, 2010 – The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. It is an opportunity to stress the importance of biodiversity for human well-being, reflect on our achievements to safeguard it and encourage a redoubling of our efforts to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss.
The theme of World Environment Day 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.
To that end, the United States Mission in Geneva will mark World Environment Day on June 5th along with the UN agencies in Geneva, the City of Geneva, corporations and non-governmental organizations.
An all day event with a multitude of activities for all ages including the inauguration of a guided nature trail, concerts, shows and dances will take place in the 46-hectare Ariana Park which surrounds the United Nations, at the Place des Nations, Palais des Nations and WIPO office.
Results of the green initiatives and continuing biodiversity promotion efforts of the U.S. Mission in Geneva will be displayed. Get up close and see what a solar panel looks like and examine the inner workings of a chiller with magnetic levitation technology. In addition, find out what our Mission community did to encourage birds and bats to roost around the Mission compound and how we achieved the status of Certified Wildlife Habitat.
Date: June 5th, 2010
Venue: Ariana Park, Place de Nations
Time: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Biodiversity Photo Gallery. Click on the images to find out how these species and their habitat are threatened
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Image Source: America.gov
Green Mission Photo Gallery. Find out what we do to stay green.
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Other Resources:
World Environment Day 2010 Activities around Europe (PDF 52 KB)