Where did #OnlyOneEarth come from?
“Only One Earth” was the slogan for the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972. This put sustainable development on the global agenda and led to the establishment of World Environment Day. Fifty years later, Sweden is hosting Stockholm+50 from 2 to 3 June, and World Environment Day on 5 June.
Why take part?
Time is running out, and nature is in emergency mode. To keep global warming below 1.5°C this century, we must halve annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Without action, exposure to air pollution beyond safe guidelines will increase by 50 percent within the decade and plastic waste flowing into aquatic ecosystems will nearly triple by 2040.
We need urgent action to address these pressing issues, making “Only One Earth” and its focus on living sustainably in harmony with nature, as pertinent as ever.
Making a sustainable living the default option
Truly transformative options towards sustainability need to be available, affordable, and attractive for people to make better daily decisions. Key areas for transformation include how we build and live in our homes, cities, and places of work and worship, how and where our money is invested, and what we do for fun. But others of greater magnitude also include energy, production systems, global trade and transport systems, and protection of biodiversity.
Many of these options can only be created by larger entities: national and sub-national governments, financial institutions, businesses, international organizations, and other organizations with the power to rewrite the rules, frame our ambition, and open up new horizons.
Nevertheless, individuals and civil society are pivotal advocates, awareness-raisers, and supporters. The more we raise our voices, emphasize what needs to be done and point out who is responsible, the faster change will come.
By supporting World Environment Day 2022 and the #OnlyOneEarth campaign, you can help ensure this unique and beautiful planet remains a comfortable home for humanity.
Earth faces a triple planetary emergency:
- the climate is heating up too quickly for people and nature to adapt;
- habitat loss and other pressures mean an estimated 1 million species are threatened with extinction;
- pollution continues to poison our air, land, and water.
Adapted from UNO website…
