Janet Ogundepo An environment and climate justice advocate group, Health of Mother Earth Foundation has called on the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency on the environment. HOMEF made this call in an exclusive statement sent to PUNCH Healthwise to commemorate the 2024 World Environment Day, signed by its Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey. WED is led by the United Nations Environment Programme and commemorated annually on June 5 to create awareness and advocate urgent action to address the current state of the environment.
The theme for 2024 WED is “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience” with the slogan, “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.
” According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, about 40 per cent of the planet’s land is affected by degradation. The UN notes that droughts have increased by 29 per cent since 2000 and will affect three-quarters of the world’s population by 2050 if urgent action is not taken. According to HOMEF’s ED, the 2024 World Environment Day is dedicated to communities whose lands and livelihoods have been lost to extractivism and pollution.
He said, “This year’s celebration urges us to reflect on our stewardship duty towards nature, environment and all living beings rather than continuing with predatory and destructive relationships that negate our well-being.” Bassey asserted that urgent steps must be taken to halt deforestation, biodiversity erosion and la.
