Decade of ecosystem rebuilding begins

Today is World Environment Day, and this year the United Nations slogan is “Rethink, Rebuild, Restore”, which aims to restore the natural world that sustains us.

The words we need to keep in mind for the next ten years are “Reimagine. to rebuild. Restore.” The United Nations reminds us of this on this year’s World Environment Day, which marks the inauguration of the “Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.” Established in 1974, it is a commitment to environmental protection by all residents of the planet, governments, companies. , is observed every 5th June with an aim to raise awareness among citizens. Urgent action has been urged this year to revive our damaged ecosystem.

Men, it is remembered, are destroying the very foundations of their own existence at an alarming rate: “every year more than 4 million 700 thousand hectares of forest (equivalent to an area larger than Denmark) are lost”. This loss is depriving the world of important pieces of its carbon sink, while “global greenhouse gas emissions have been rising for three years in a row and the planet is on a path of potentially catastrophic climate change.” And again “by reducing the natural habitat for wildlife we ​​have created conditions for the spread of pathogens including coronaviruses”.

In this context of the environmental crisis, the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, as desired by the United Nations Assembly on March 6, 2019, has become “an opportunity to reestablish the natural world that supports us”. Scientists say the next decade will play an important role in the fight to stop climate change and the loss of millions of species. Ten strategic actions proposed.

“Empower a global movement” to reverse the destruction and degradation of billions of hectares of ecosystems. A complex task given the great variety of local conditions and threats to be faced, “threats from miners from forests and fires to destroy agricultural land”.

We need to “connect and strengthen actions” so that groups and individuals can learn about restoration opportunities in their region. “Financial restructuring of the sector”: resources are needed for restoration; Initial investment of the order of billions is needed. Governments, international lenders, development agencies and private companies will need to increase their support.

“Set up the right incentives”. Restoration is good for the planet and good for the people. Taking care of nature can also mean giving up profits from less sustainable practices; But in the long run, healthy ecosystems produce higher yields, safer incomes and a healthier environment for people. “Celebrating leadership” by introducing what many countries are doing to revitalize the 350 million hectare forest landscape or what indigenous peoples have done for generations to protect their habitats.

“Changing Behavior”. Deforestation, depletion of fish stocks, degradation of agricultural land are all caused by global food consumption patterns. These models need to be changed to promote more sustainable consumption and eco-friendly products. “Investing in research”, because restoration is complex and scientific knowledge is still evolving. Identifying best practices to “repair” our planet requires considerable investment.

To encourage an increasingly active role in conservation and restoration initiatives, such as indigenous peoples, women and young people, to encourage “capacity building”, particularly in those groups most lost to the destruction of their ecosystems. “Celebrating the Culture of the Restoration”, moving from plundering the planet to caring for it: a cultural challenge that concerns not just governments and scientists. The strategy is aimed directly at artists, writers, producers, musicians to be a part of generation restoration.

“Building the next generations”, because it is young people and future generations who are most affected by the destruction of ecosystems. But they will also be the ones who will benefit the most from job creation based on a restored sustainable economy.

“Climate Clock” installed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Ecological Transition on the occasion of Environment Day on the same wavelength, which was attended by the Minister Roberto Singolani and CEO of GSE Roberto Moneta. According to the scientists, the Big Clock indicates the time needed to adapt to the behavior and interventions that limit the increase in the planet’s temperature by one and a half degrees in just under seven years.

Born in the wake of the international campaign inaugurated in 2020 by the artists gana golan I Andrew Boyd Along with the climate clock installed in Union Square in Manhattan, the Italian clock will also indicate the percentage of energy produced from renewable sources in the world.

“Fundamental challenges await in the coming months,” said the minister singolani – From the G20 environment to COP26 on climate in Glasgow. The climate clock that we are inaugurating on the frontend of MITE now communicates with the one already installed in Glasgow. The time these clocks indicate is the time when we have to act. Ecological transition is the main tool to shake these hands and free ourselves from the risks to which climate change exposes us”.

Among other things, the establishment aims to raise awareness among citizens so that everyone can feel part of the path that will lead to a low carbon future. Located at the entrance to the Ministry Building via Cristoforo Colombo, the Climate Clock is part of a number of initiatives leading up to the Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 1 to 12 November 2021.