Pretoria - The Department of Environmental Affairs will partner with the Northern Cape Province to celebrate World Environment Day under the theme “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”.
The theme, which was declared by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is centred on the well-being of humanity, the environment and the functioning of the economy which ultimately depend upon the responsible management of the planet’s natural resources.
“Faced with the real threat of climate change, sustainable development becomes more pertinent and significant from the South African and worldwide perspective.
“Our challenge as a nation which is a developing state is to find a healthy balance between the three pillars - economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability,” Department of Environmental Affairs Spokesperson Albi Modise said.
He said as South Africa has adopted the National Development Plan, the environment sector will implement related aspects of the priority areas in the plan that deal with sustainable development.
Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa will be joined by the Premier of Northern Cape Province Sylvia Lucas, MEC of Environmental and Nature Conservation Tiny Chotelo as well the Francis Baard District Municipality Mayor to lead the World Environment Day celebrations in Kimberley on Saturday.
Modise said the SA National Parks (SANParks), SA Weather Service (SAWS) and the SA National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) will also join the celebrations.
“World Environment Day is celebrated annually around the globe. It was established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly at the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment to present an opportunity for everyone to realize their responsibility to become agents of change,” he said.
The day was created to educate and raise awareness on environmental conservation. –SAnews.gov.za
