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World Environment Day observed

Xinhua, June 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

This year's World Environment Day was marked at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and around the world Friday, with the focus on the role of every day people in protecting the environment.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday made a special appeal, calling for better protection of the Earth on the occasion.

"Humanity continues to consume far more natural resources than the planet can sustainably provide. Many of the Earth's ecosystems are nearing critical tipping points. It is time for us to change," said Ban in a message on this year's World Environment Day under the theme "Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care."

Achim Steiner, the executive director of the UN Environment Program (UNEP), called on the world's 7 billion people to remember that personal choices shape the world where all the people live.

"Our daily decisions as consumers, multiplied by billions, have a colossal impact on the environment," said Steiner, who urged consumers to consider the ways they could make a difference, whether by refusing single-use plastic bags or riding a bike to work.

The events calculated to celebrate this year's World Environment Day included the world's largest ever global citizen consultation on climate change. The global event will include 10, 000 participants from 79 countries sharing their views and voting on climate change issues over the course of a single day. The debate started at UN Headquarters Friday, with more than 100 international high school students participating.

The results of the debate will be collated and used to help inform world leaders engaged in climate change negotiations throughout the rest of 2015.

The official World Environment Day event took place at the Milano Expo in Italy where speakers included Steiner and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

The World Environment Day message of "Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care" will also be shared with commuters at Beijing Capital International Airport over the coming five months.

The campaign, which features UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Li Bingbing, a well known Chinese actress, is displayed on 400 television screens, 80 billboards and 64 LED screens at the airport -- considered one of the world's most sustainable airport buildings.

UNEP also released a new report on World Environment Day titled "Sustainable Consumption and Production," which dwells upon how more efficient energy and water use can save money.

The World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Endite