UNEP poster exhibition encourages sustainable lifestyles

A poster exhibition encouraging passengers to consume with care opened on Thursday at Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), on the occasion of the 2015 World Environment Day (WED) celebrated with the slogan “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care." It encourages people to rethink their lifestyles and, through conscious consumer decisions, decrease humanity’s collective impact on nature’s resources. [Jiao Meng /Chinagate.cn]

A poster exhibition encouraging passengers to consume with care opened on Thursday at Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), one of the most advanced airport buildings in terms of environmental sustainability. 

The exhibition was jointly organized by UNEP and BCIA on the occasion of the 2015 World Environment Day (WED) celebrated with the slogan “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care," which encourages people to rethink their lifestyles and, through conscious consumer decisions, decrease humanity’s collective impact on nature’s resources.

UNEP’s Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Thiaw described the capital airport as "a city of 84 million people". "Millions of people travel through this airport, and we would like them to be aware of environmental issues, and through these beautiful posters we have here that have been graciously put for education people in the international airport, they will be able to see and be aware of environmental issues," he believed.

The Beijing Airport made available 400 TV screens at various boarding gates, 80 billboards and 64 LED screens, which will be dedicated for UNEP's messages over the next five months.

The artwork, designed on a pro-bono basis by a Chinese artist, Benjamin Bliss, will encourage the passengers passing through Beijing Airport to adopt more sustainable lifestyles, in conformity with this year’s WED theme.

Ten of the most recognizable Chinese celebrities are featured, including UNEP Goodwill Ambassador and top model - Li Bingbing, UNEP Climate Hero and famed photographer - Luo Hong, UNEP Patron of Arts and Environment and artist - Yuan Xikun, as well as renowned actors: Li Chen, Tong Dawei, Chen Shu, Bai Yu, Tao Hui, Zhu Yawen and acclaimed director Li Jun.

Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP’s Deputy Executive Director and Shi Boli, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BCIA signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BCIA and UNEP Thursday in Beijing, on the eve of World Environment Day. [Jiao Meng / Chinagate.cn]

The exhibition is the first project realized under the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BCIA and UNEP, signed on Thursday by Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP’s Deputy Executive Director and Shi Boli, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BCIA. Both sides have agreed to continue displaying exhibitions and public education messages on topics ranging from sustainable consumption and production, to illegal wildlife trade, to climate change and green economy. UNEP has also pledged to support BCIA’s efforts to make its operations even more environment-friendly by conducting green airport assessment, increasing energy efficiency and minimizing waste.

The Beijing International Airport boasts an impressive record of reducing its environmental impact, including installation of efficient LED lighting, adoption of energy-efficient transit cars and reducing carbon emissions. With UNEP’s support, BCIA wishes to draft a strategy for a further greening of its operations, particularly in the areas of green procurement, energy efficiency and carbon emissions reduction.

BCIA’s efforts in this field can serve as an example of resource efficiency for the rest of the transport sector, which is one of the fastest growing consumers of energy worldwide.