World Environment Day 2021
well for the opening remarks i would
like to invite
naheed s dhorani she is the secretary at
the ministry of climate change pakistan
please
put your hands together and welcome
naheed s dhorani
distinguished guests ladies and
gentlemen
assalamu alaikum and a very good
afternoon
let me begin by extending a very warm
welcome to all of you
and thanking you for gracing this
occasion
we all know pakistan is hosting the
world environment day
and we are here to celebrate
it indeed it is an honor an
honor in recognition of the work that
pakistan has done
a very serious robust and a strong work
that has been put
on ground it will be very important to
remember
that pakistan is doing this nature
nature-based solution work
with its own finances it's
largely public investments
and we also know that the country
given the size given its context has
multiple
challenges despite those challenges
pandemic the prime minister of pakistan
has put the green agenda
at the center stage it is his
vision and he leads it from the front
pakistan has undertaken a lot of work on
nature-based solutions
the most central being the 10 billion
tree
you'll get a lot of glimpses of that
project
as we unfold our event today
in fact it is not a project it's a long
term transformation of ecosystem
restoration in pakistan
it's a very extensive program it can be
very transformative
it's if it's taken from year two decades
onwards
but the light has been set
and we have we have entered into
a era where why we have very strong
work may it be restoration of lands
may it be protected areas
may it be restoration of wetlands and
may it be
a lot of work and commitments on the
energy side
all of you must have seen the electric
vehicles that are parked
outside pakistan is one of those
countries
that has put the energy agenda
transformation towards renewable again
at the center stage
and it is a very bold step
last but not the least all of the work
that government of pakistan is carrying
forward is very sensitive to
people it's people-centric we are
sensitive to take the youth
women local communities and be sensitive
about their incomes their livelihoods
and their robust involvement
involvement otherwise it is not
possible to take afforestation and
greening agenda on a sustainable
basis or as a part of our economic
and social development
let me end here i do not want to take
much time
please stay tuned and you will get
very robust glimpses of the work
that the government civil society and
the people of pakistan
have put on ground on climate agenda
thank you
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well this great composition from suhail
rana
day being hosted by pakistan in pakistan
now we'll move on
we have a message from the unep
we have a message from the executive
secretary of uh the unfcc
i am pleased to participate in this
virtual event
to mark world environment day and thank
pakistan for hosting it
it's a day we also launched the u.n
decade on ecosystem restoration
throughout the world our forests are
under siege each year an average of 122
million hectares
of forest are affected by fires
pests diseases invasive species
drought and adverse weather events
each year 75 billion tons
of fertile soil are lost to land
degradation
and 12 million hectares of land
are lost to decertification and drought
these events are among the many drivers
of ecosystem destruction
species extinction threats to human
health
and food security stopping the damage
is not enough we need to restore our
ecosystems
restoration enhances the resilience of
ecosystems to climate impacts
restoration has considerable mitigation
potential
as well by sequestering carbon in trees
shrubs and soils the next 10 years
beginning now must be a decade of
unified action
we must achieve the sustainable
development goals
we must move the paris agreement from
adoption to implementation
the post-2020 global biodiversity
framework
must be adopted and the decade of
ecosystem restoration
must achieve its goals to prevent halt
and reverse the degradation of
ecosystems
on every continent and in every ocean
all nations must do their part
our host pakistan provides some
encouraging
ways forward steps such as its 10
billion tree tsunami initiative
aimed at restoring more than 1 million
hectares
of degraded forests its work
to restore degraded wetland ecosystems
and its commitment to expand its
protected areas and create
several new national parks
this restores nature protects against
biodiversity laws
and helps address climate change it also
creates jobs
something all economies need as the
world begins to emerge
from covet 19. ladies and gentlemen
by responding proactively right now to
the climate change emergency
including restoring our land resources
we will reduce numerous future risks
to humanity and ecosystems i thank
all of you for your efforts and look
forward to your ongoing work
as we get this decade of restoration
underway as we look forward to cop 26
and as we build a cleaner greener and
more
inclusive future for all people
thank yo
thank you executive secretary unfccc for
your wonderful message
now we have a message from the
administrator
undp
prime minister imran khan excellencies
ladies and gentlemen
it is a great privilege to join you and
be part of this
high-level event to celebrate world
environment day and to at least
by virtual means return to pakistan
where i began my professional journey
so many years ago it comes at a pivotal
moment also for both people and planet
as the world reels from the devastating
consequences of the kobit-19 pandemic
humans are pushing the earth to breaking
point
human activity has altered almost 75
of the earth's surface squeezing
wildlife and nature into an ever smaller
corner of the planet
with it biodiversity is withering before
our eyes
almost unbelievably up to one million
plant and animal species now face
extinction
many within decades at the same time
climate change continues its relentless
march
2011 to 2020
was the warmest decade on record look
for example to the
hindukush himalayan region nearly three
quarters of the glaciers
there are now retreating at an alarming
pace due to climate change
but yet i am hopeful for the future as
many countries start
to slowly recover from this devastating
pandemic
we are witnessing the emergence of a
greater collective will
to take the level of climate action that
is needed to move towards a global green
economy
and to drive forward gain changing
efforts to protect and restore
our natural world on world environment
day
the un decade on ecosystem restoration
will be launched
it is the start of a global mission to
rally individuals and communities across
the globe to engage in grassroots
efforts that will repair billions of
hectares of land
that includes everything from seeding
native trees to tackle desertification
to cleaning rivers and oceans to
greening our cities
generation restoration means bringing
back plants and animals from the brink
of extinction
from the peaks of mountains to the
depths of the sea
and restoring 350 million hectares of
degraded lands
by the year 2030 could remove an
enormous 26
gigatons of greenhouse gases from the
atmosphere
helping also to slow climate change
it will also help to ensure food and
water security for millions of people it
will
reduce poverty and create new green jobs
that will pay better
it will help to protect against
disasters and provide a natural buffer
against pandemics like covet 19. in fact
restoration can help us to achieve
all of the sustainable development goals
indeed the extraordinary efforts of
countries like pakistan are inspiring
communities across the globe
to take new bold actions to protect and
restore
the environment look for instance to its
commitment to source two-thirds of its
energy needs
from renewables to its billion-three
tsunami program
which is restoring ecosystems allowing
wildlife
to return and creating new green jobs at
the same time
and to its pioneering work to develop a
nature performance bond
prime minister excellencies ladies and
gentlemen with cbd cop 15
cop 26 and the high level dialogue on
energy all now on the horizon
we are entering the pivotal moment for
our collective future
we have more technology we have more
science and we have historic levels of
stimulus
all of which we can deploy to slash
carbon emissions
and invest in protecting our natural
world
at the united nations development
program we will continue to offer
integrated solutions with our partners
to help countries and communities to
make deep inroads in these vital
areas and join with our sister agency
the united nations environment program
in promoting these forward-looking
concepts and ideas
which in turn will help to ensure that
we now embark on a brand new era
of positive transformation for both
people
and planet thank you so much and
happy world environment day
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thank you undp
now moving on we have a message
from the president of icun
i use iucn also acknowledged
pakistan's efforts when pakistan became
the first country
in the world to meet international born
challenge of
restoring over 350 000 hectares of land
into forests so i'll request him to play
the message
from the president of iucn
minister for climate is
pakistan malik amin
executive director of the ua
environmental program in
henderson and the dear water
participants
as we observe this very important day
for environment
globally let us commit again
to restore and reconnect positively with
nature
the current dynamic has put to
imperative
need for collective action to ecosystem
restoration so as to secure our health
and well-being ladies and gentlemen
on behalf of international union for
conservation of nature as a president of
iucn
i commend the government of pakistan
and the ui environment program for your
jointly leading
this event successfully
today's launching of u.n decade
ecosystem
restoration also provides a fitting
produce
to the iucs world conservation congress
in coming september marseille france
where iucn's volcano agenda
for nature 2030 will be deliberated
upon our union's 14 000
plus members including government estate
agency members
ngo and indigenous people members
as well as scientific academic
institutions members
your excellency ladies and gentlemen
also appreciate and welcome the new bomb
challenges pledge of a restoring 1
million hectare forest
made by pakistan as you all know
government have active roles in shaping
the leading strategic direction
towards a well-balanced equitable and
sustainable use of natural resources
safeguarding is nature habit
pakistan is one country
by integrating nature-based distribution
into countries development programs
so as to answer countries pressing
societal and different
challenges the country's green coffee 19
response
the 10 billion trees tsunami projects
and the recharging pakistan
initiative along with 85 thousands of
nature possible jobs
generated are significant contributions
for u.n daily ecosystem which you were
launching today
let us build a back better and bring
happy world environmental day thank you
um
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so that was a beautiful performance from
uh gilgat bazistan
salman paris thank you very much and
your
team as well moving on we have
yet another message coming from
the executive secretary at the
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uncbd
ecosystem services are indispensable to
the well-being of
all worlds people yet ecosystems
continue to erode
ecosystem degradation already affects
the well-being of at least 3.2 billion
people
fortunately it is very possible to
reverse this trend
the fifth global biodiversity outlook
shows that where policy measure policy
measures have been put
in place and where actions have been
implemented
they have delivered positive results
therefore
ecosystem restoration when implemented
effectively and with the support of
local population
it works restoring 15 percent of
converted lands
in the right places could prevent 60
percent
of projected species extinctions
restoring through agroforestry alone
has the potential to increase food
security for 1.3 billion
people restoring coral reefs in
mesoamerica
and indonesia could deliver an
additional 2.5 billion dollars
in ecosystem services benefits per year
ecosystems restoration is at the core
of the post-2020 global biodiversity
framework
to be adopted later this year in coming
china
it will serve as an excellent backdrop
to the expected actions under the u.n
decade
on ecosystem restoration
the convention on biological diversity
together with our sister rio convention
will use this platform to further
enhance synergy
for optimizing the multiple benefits
of actions for ecosystem restoration
i congratulate the government and the
people
of pakistan the host of this year's
world environment today on their vision
of investing in nature-based solutions
pakistan's 10 billion tree tsunami
restoring 1 million hectares of degraded
forest
the recharge pakistan initiative
restoring degraded wetland ecosystem
and protected areas being expanded to
include 15 percent of land area
and 10 percent of marine area by 2023
is a clear and tangible demonstration of
being part
of the solution for nature these
initiatives will not only restore and
protect
nature to fight climate change and
biodiversity loss
but they will also create thousands
of green jobs and serve as an
inspiration
to other countries to emulate and adapt
today on world environment day
let us dedicate ourselves to preventing
halting and reversing the degradation
of all the ecosystem worldwide
[Music]
dear friends the greatest problems
facing humanity including
land degradation biodiversity loss
pandemics and climate change
are closely linked across the world
our demands for food raw materials and
homes
are not sustainable we are putting our
natural environment
under enormous pressure our world
environment day host country
pakistan is home to iconic landscapes
and ecosystems
the mountain beauty of swat and the
majestic
karakoram the snow leopard of chitro
the five rivers of the punjab
at the unccd we fervently believe that
restoring land
and ecosystems has a huge return on
investments
nature-based solutions can guide us
towards a greener
healthier and more sustainable
stewardship of our planet
this year world environment day marks
the start
of the u.n decade of ecosystem
restoration
the pandemic has shown that when
political will
collective action and meaningful
investment come together
we can make a difference this is how we
can revive and protect our ecosystems
i applaud pakistan's leadership and
vision the 10
billion tree tsunami is a wonderful and
vital initiative
to restore and re-integrated forest
ecosystems
let us all be part of generation
restoration
together thank you
so that was uh mr ibrahim executive
secretary at the
uncct moving on we have yet another
message
from executive director at the
un habitat
your excellency mr imran khan
prime minister of pakistan honourable mr
malik amin asma
special assistant to prime minister on
climate change
minister of climate change honorable
miss zatash ghul minister of state
for climate change ms inger anderson
executive director of unep honorable
ministers
excellencies colleagues ladies
ladies and gentlemen a very good morning
afternoon and evening to all of you
assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi
i extend my sincere congratulations
to the governments of pakistan and unemp
for hosting this year's observance of
world
environment day in pakistan
ecosystem restorations the theme of this
year's
world environment day is one of the most
critical issues
of our time as we battle the climate
crisis
and the current kovit-19 pandemic
uninhabited looks forward to supporting
member states
and cities during the u.n decades on
ecosystem restoration
that starts today unhabited's focus is
on sustainable urbanization
and nature-based solution is central to
our efforts
it is entirely befitting that pakistan
with its rich diversity of ecosystems
ranging from some of the highest
mountains
and glaciers in the world to the arabian
sea
is the host of today's global event
from you inhabited i assure you
we will work to make this a decade of
action
indeed to recover from the pandemic and
address the climate crisis
we have no other choice than to heal
nature
and the planet while we heal ourselves
ecosystem restoration is essential for
this
suburban expansion almost always
leads to the degradations of natural
habitats
and ecosystems found within cities
cities need to minimize habited
destruction
and rehabilitate existing habitats to a
level of good ecological functioning
both for biodiversity and resilience
while land use change is a key driver
of zoonotic diseases like covet 19 and
climate change
sustainable urbanization can play a
central role
in ecosystem preservation and
restoration
in africa and asia where urbanization
is increasing fastest ensuring that
cities
are well planned and compact will ensure
that they'll use less energy and natural
resources
un habitats urban planning lab helps
cities
to use planned city extensions to
optimize densities and minimize
very urban land conversion in complement
our global public space program support
city-wide public space assessments
and strategies to protect green space
the restoration of urban riverine
corridors
has been one important result
increasing grain spaces in cities and
better managing
their resources consumption and waste
not only makes
cities more livable for people but also
protects
biodiversity and helps to build back
degraded ecosystem un habitat support
cities and local governments in turning
off the type of pollution
a new inhabited waste-wise cities
initiative
for example connect more than 200 cities
across the world
through this network cities can share
their experiences and innovations
leading to the replication of waste
management solutions
suited to local contacts we also work
with our sister's agency unam
in identifying global marine litter hot
spots
where we support cities to improve their
solid waste management
under a new joint initiative with unam
the go blue project we are working to
create
a sustainable blue economy in selected
coastal towns of kenya
this aims to establish planning
framework
linking cities and the marine
environment
and will pilot a blue carbon project to
restore
thousands of hectares of mangrove and
seagrass through community engagement
and create hundreds of jobs in waste
recycling
it will also design a constructed
wetland
for wastewater recycling and ecosystem
restoration ladies and gentlemen
in these difficult times it is more
crucial than ever
that we reinforce and join our efforts
to strengthen global cooperation to
accelerate progress
on the 2030 agenda for sustainable
development
the paris agreement and the new urban
agenda
the amount of money invested in
ecosystem destruction
is 40 times higher than the amount
invested in ecosystem restoration
this must change please join me
in committing to play our part in the
realization of the vision we hold
for an inclusive resilient and
sustainable future
i look forward to strengthening our
cooperation thank you
thank you uh her excellency
ms mama mohammad sharif thank you very
much for being with us
and sending across a very good message
she's the executive director at
jouen habitat now there's a video we
need to play
and you will definitely enjoy this video
from
un ep on glaciers so let's have a watch
so
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moving on we have yet another message
from the executive director
at unops
excellencies ladies and gentlemen
for far too long we have been harming
the natural world our list of losses
is losses is long and painful
wetlands forests coral reefs
and our biodiversity are disappearing
at astonishing speed we are getting more
frequent
and more damaging droughts floods
fires and storms our habitats
are rapidly degrading in the words
of the un secretary general antonio
guterres
we face an environmental
emergency kovin 19 has
been yet another wake-up call if we
are unkind to nature it will
be unkind to us because
our natural ecosystems support all life
on earth
if they suffer we will all
suffer this world
environment day we have a chance to
change that
a chance to make peace with nature
at eunups we do our bit by
finding sustainable solutions for a
greener future
whether it's through supporting
sustainable resilient
and inclusive infrastructure and supply
chains
or through our significant management
expertise to help protect our ecosystems
or by helping ensure that countries and
organizations
manage their waste sustainably and
responsibly
infrastructure is central to addressing
climate change
through our mandate in infrastructure
eunops
supports countries and communities
to both mitigate and adapt to a
changing climate i want to thank
pakistan for their commitment to hosting
world environment day 2021
helping to mobilize the call to restore
our damaged ecosystems
together we can build a better future
for all
this world environment day let's start
by resetting
our relationship with nature
thank you
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okay
we are about to close uh the first
session
of the world environment day being
hosted by pakistan
and prime minister of pakistan imran
khan he will be
joining us shortly for the second
session as we start
moving on we have another message from
the director journal at f
a o food and agriculture organization at
the u.n carbon 19 pandemic
the carbon 19 pandemic has put the
spotlight on the critical role of the
healthy ecosystems
and the services they provide but the
pressure on the natural resources
is increasing that grade
exists affected the well-being of 3.2
billion people that is the 40 percent of
a world population
increase poverty and food insecurity it
is
time to move from the crisis to recovery
fm is proud to call it the u.n decade
on ecosystem restoration which is a
unique
opportunity for restoring harmony with
natural
by showing it the reverence it
deserves while the feeding the world is
in a sustainable
manner bring degraded ecosystems back to
the sustainable production will have
provide the food we need leaving no one
behind
new sustainable agricultural
opportunities could
generate almost 80 million jobs by 2030
with more than 90 percent of them
located in
developing nations transforming
agri-foods
and land use systems could create
new business opportunities west up to
u.s dollar
4.5 trillion u.s dollars a year by 2030.
this year's award environment day slogan
reimagine recreate restore
defines the law we all have to play
we must take bold actions like pakistan
ambitious time billing tree initiative
that combines the community
participation green job creation
and strong political commitment let us
join forces
restore ecosystems ensure better
production better nutrition by the
environment
and a better life for all
thank you director general
food and agriculture organization at the
u.n
thank you very much for your message
moving on we have another message from
the minister
for environment federal republic of
germany
minister malik amin aslam ladies and
gentlemen
today's world environment day marks the
start
of the un decade on ecosystem
restoration
climate change is progressing
biodiversity loss continues
loss continues the time left to achieve
the sustainable development goals is
dwindling
while we are still in the grip of the
corona virus pandemic
we are all very aware that we must take
action
as an international community more
urgently than ever before
we need a clear trend reversal we have
an
excellent opportunity for this in the
u.n decade on
ecosystem restoration we should actively
use this opportunity
ecosystem restoration helps us with many
of the current challenges
restoring ecosystems protect the climate
conserves biodiversity
makes sustainable development possible
and contributes to sustainable recovery
from the pandemic
it is up to all of us to use this
potential
my warm thanks goes to pakistan for its
commitment to restoring ecosystems and
for
hosting this year's world environment
day
we need days like this to reaffirm our
joint goals and support
in the next decade we must lay the
foundations
for a healthy planet and an intact
ecosystem
generally will do its part
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thank you very
session
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world environment day 2021 being hosted
by pakistan
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ibrahimovic
so we'll formally start the first the
second session of
the world environment day 2021 being
hosted by pakistan
assalaamu alaikum and welcome to all
it's a great honor
for pakistan to host this world
environment day for the first time
in our history pakistan has uh has a
great story to tell
to the world that how did it become the
first country
in the world to meet the international
born challenge of restoring over 350
000 hectares of land into forest and
planted
over a billion trees in the kp province
and
now planting 10 billion trees across the
country
a billion out of which has already been
planted
prime minister imran khan has become
a strong voice globally for this great
cause
of fighting climate change and making
this planet a better place for
generations to come
pakistan has also passed
a crucial milestone on the road
to environmental protection by
meeting the un climate goals
a decade before the deadline
is
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vision of clean and green
pakistan is being implemented
quite effectively and we really need to
make more and more efforts together
for the green development we would like
to thank united nations
environment program for giving of giving
us
this opportunity to host this year's
world environment day
team for this year is ecosystem
restoration the theme for this year
world environment day is ecosystem
restoration
with focus on resetting our relationship
with nature today pakistan
mars the formal launch of the
u.n decade on ecosystem
restoration 2021 to 20 20 30.
we will watch your video package on
pakistan's
climate change efforts of pakistan to
fight climate change
a video package package yes
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we planted a billion trees in five years
now we've set ourselves
a target of 10 billion trees in pakistan
idea being to counter this
the effects of global warming but one
country cannot do anything
this has to be a combined effort of the
world
foreign
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pakistani
foreign
please welcome the state minister of
climate change
earth is green and beautiful and allah
has appointed you
his stewards over it and he sees how you
equip yourself
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initiative
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initiative
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moving on we have a message from the
president of the world economic forum
mr borja branda he has an experience of
working in norwegian public sector
as minister of foreign affairs minister
of trade
and industry and minister of environment
a very strong voice for protecting the
environment please
welcome mr borja brenda
your excellency uh prime minister khan
ladies and gentlemen it's a great honor
to address this high level
event hosted by pakistan on the occasion
of world environment day as the world
comes together
for the launch of the un decade for
ecosystem restoration
we must realize that we do this not to
save the planet per se
but to save ourselves our economy
is embedded in our society which in turn
is embedded within the bios square
to live within the planetary boundaries
we must strive
towards aligning our economic and social
activities
with the limits of the bias square
the world economic forum's new nature
economy
reports identified that more than half
the world's gdp
is moderately or highly dependent on
nature
and hence exposed to risks of nature
loss we are losing more
value than we produce if we continue our
current path
by 2025 an estimated
estimated 1.8 billion people
will suffer absolute water scarcity and
two-thirds of the world
will be living under water shortages
and by 2050 global crop yields are
estimated to fall
10 percent with some regions suffering
up to a 50
reduction as a result
world food prices are expected to rise
by an estimated 30 percent
business as usual is no longer an option
we must shift towards a net zero
nature positive and socially equitable
world the time to act
on it it is no the decisions we take
today
will bind us to a path for the coming
years
and hence adopting an action-orientated
approach
for the next decade is crucial for the
protection
restoration and sustainable management
of our natural capital assets
research shows that every dollar spent
on key net zero and nature positive
activities
including ecosystem conservation and
restoration
can generate up to seven dollars in the
broader
economy but we need a system change that
recognizes the value of natural capital
and creates the right incentives for
safeguarding it
the number of corporate commitments to
reach net zero emissions
has more than doubled over the past year
it is incredible
and over 70 garments have no pledge
to restore 210 million hectares
of land through the bond challenge a
global effort to restore the
world's most degraded and deforested
land the world economic firm's
1t.org platform is helping
to conserve restore and grow
1 trillion trees by 2030.
yesterday the 1t.org corporate alliance
launched a platform for companies to
commit
to forest conservation restoration
and reforestation act with
integrity and transparency and
demonstrate leadership
in support of the global restoration
movement
to succeed we must amplify the voices of
youth women and local and indigenous
communities at the
front line of safeguarding nature
we must develop investment vehicles
policies and education opportunities
that meet their needs and we must
embrace and support
their solutions for restoring nature
through ambitious public-private
partnerships
we need to better connect the grassroots
with the grass
tops of the world this is why
i'm thrilled that the un decade of
ecosystem restoration is set to unleash
a global ecopreneurship movement
for a generation restoration with our
uplink platform
the world economic forum is offering
youth leaders and innovators of all ages
an opportunity to share their best
solutions
for restoring nature and connecting them
with investors
experts and communities who can help
them
scale up this decade we all must
work on improving investment education
and capacity building
for entrepreneurs who are at the front
line of nature protection
and restoration as countries look to
build back
better and design post-pandemic recovery
measures
let's remember that natural capital
and ecosystem services underpin
human health economic growth and
societal
resilience i really applaud pakistan's
10
billion tree tsunami that is restoring
over 1 million hectares of degraded
forests congratulations through its many
nature positive initiatives pakistan is
showing
that it is possible to combine the
objectives of livelihoods
resilience and ecological health
thank you for walking the talk let us
work together to ensure
that this decade of ecosystem
restoration
puts us on a path to recovery resetting
humanity's relationship
with nature so that by 2030 we have
arrived
at the world that is net zero nature
positive
and
thank you president of the world
economic
forum mr apollo brenda for your
message now we are privileged
to have with us inger anderson she is
live with us
she has years and years of experience in
the areas of agriculture
environmental management biodiversity
conservation climate change
energy water resources management
and hydro diplomacy we also thank you
anger for your for you approaching
pakistan
and giving us this great opportunity for
hosting the world environment day
2021 please put your hands together
for the executive director at the un
environment program
inger anderson
thank you so much senator faisal javed
and if i may thank all of the people
here and of course to prime minister
imran khan
to minister malik aslam khan and to the
minister of climate change
for hosting this world environment day
the largest global platform
for outreach on the environmental
challenges of our time
world environment day 2021 marks the
launch
as we have heard of the united nations
decade
on ecosystem restoration which aims to
reverse the damage
we have caused to nature we must spare
no
effort to make this decade on ecosystem
restoration
a success because we must stabilize the
climate
we must protect nature and we must stem
pollution
to create a world where the sustainable
development goals
thrive restoring ecosystems
is a remarkable solution it slows
climate change
it brings back lost biodiversity it
creates productive land for agriculture
it provides jobs restores nature's
buffers against zoonotic diseases and
pandemics
and helps vulnerable communities adapt
to the changing climate but restoration
alone
won't solve all our problems we must
stop
further ecosystem destruction but how do
we do this
by reforming agriculture by changing how
we build our cities
by decarbonizing our economies and by
moving to circular economic models
restoration as a quick acting solution
can
buy us time to make these larger
transformations
and that is why the decade for ecosystem
restoration
aims to prevent to halt and to reverse
the loss of ecosystems
momentum is growing we now have
commitments to restore one
billion hectares of land about half of
all that is degraded
and pakistan is showing us the way
the prime minister recently planted the
one billionth tree
of the 10 billion tree tsunamo bravo
to all i'm also very encouraged by a new
and innovative program to swap
debts for commitments to achieve
conservation targets
and laudable is also the decision to
halt the approval of new coal power
plants
and to pivot to renewables as climate
change is a
key driver of desertification and
ecosystem degradation
such a move is great news for nature
the task now for pakistan and for all
nations
is to build on this momentum and deliver
on all our commitments
but how do we get there we'll allow me
to put four points
that should be on our priority list
first
we need to get the finance flowing to
meet the climate biodiversity and land
degradation targets
financial flows to nato-based solutions
must triple
by 2030 and increase four-fold by
2050 so governments must allocate funds
to restoration in the cobit 19 recovery
packages the parliaments across the
world are passing right now
businesses banks investors and insurers
must reform their operations and their
financial flows
to restore the natural world a key step
is to start using the
inclusive wealth measure of growth such
an approach
measures natural capital alongside human
and produced capital
it allows us to make investment
decisions that back sustainable growth
and prosperity for example uneps recent
inclusive wealth analysis of pakistan's
economy
showed that the afforestation efforts
underway are likely to
increase natural capital and inclusive
wealth
pakistan's economy is growing in the
right direction
now my second point is that we must
protect those
who manage the land in law and indeed
research shows that lands managed by
local communities
suffer less degradation to empower local
communities
we must recognize the right to a healthy
environment
and back it with the full force of the
law and here pakistan has taken strides
with green benches in its supreme court
and
all provincial high courts across the
country and my third point is
that it is time to make our cities
green havens as our world urbanizes
we need to make nature a fundamental
part of our cities
there's much we can do backing urban
agriculture
expanding green spaces integrating
nature's infrastructure with our built
infrastructure
green our gardens and streets this will
deliver
enormous benefits to city life including
natural cooling
cleaner air food security and healthier
people
and happier kids and my fourth point
is it's equally important to restore the
blue planet
we have made huge commitments on land
restoration
and we salute that but our marine and
coastal ecosystems are also in trouble
and we need to see a massive increase in
restoration commitments globally
on marine and coastal ecosystems with
backing from donors
so friends excellencies if we work hard
in these four areas
to get finance flows in tune with nature
to protect those who manage the land to
make our cities green
and to restore the blue planet we will
heal nature we will slow climate change
we will feed the world we will protect
vulnerable
communities we will reduce pandemic
risks
and we will in essence make everybody's
lives better
thank you again to pakistan for your
efforts
i encourage pakistan now to keep
delivering a new ambitious commitment
and i encourage all other nations to
follow pakistan's leadership
and make this decade a roaring success
thank you thank
[Music]
foreign
to perform a theme song on
world environment day 2021
talia
imran khan
now we have a message from the u.n
secretary general
he is a great promoter of reform and
innovation his commitment and efforts
to fight climate change are commendable
he has declared
2021 as the year to reconcile
humanity with nature please put your
hands together
for his excellency antonio guecharis
i'm pleased to send greetings to the
government and people of pakistan
official host of this year's world
environment day
and the team ecosystem restoration
we are rapidly reaching the point of no
return for the planet
we have a triple environmental emergency
biodiversity loss
climate disruption and escalating
pollution
for too long humanity has cut down the
earth's forests
polluted its rivers and oceans and plots
its grasslands into oblivion
we are ravaging the very ecosystems that
underpin our societies
and in doing so we risk depriving
ourselves of the food water and
resources we need to survive
the degradation of the natural world is
already undermining the well-being of
3.2 billion people
or 40 percent of humanity luckily
the hearse is resilient but she needs
our help
we still have time to reverse the damage
we have done that is why on this world
environment day we are launching the
united nations decade on ecosystem
restoration
this global movement will bring together
governments businesses civil society
and private citizens in an unprecedented
effort to heal the earth
by restoring ecosystems we can drive a
transformation that will contribute to
the achievement
of all the sustainable development goals
the task is monumental
we need to replant and protect our
forests we need to clean up our rivers
and seas
and we need to green our cities
accomplishing these things will not only
safeguard the planet's resources
it will create millions of new jobs by
2030 generates returns of over 7
trillion us dollars every year and help
eliminate poverty and hunger
united nations decade on ecosystem
restoration is a global call to action
it will draw together political support
scientific research and financial
martial muscle
to massively scale up restoration
everyone can contribute
science tells us these next 10 years are
our final chance to avert a climate
catastrophe
turn back the deadly tide of pollution
and species loss
so let today be the start of a new
record when in which we finally make
peace with nature
and secure a better future for all
thank you his excellency antonio
gateress
un secretary general now moving on
i would like to invite special
assistant to the prime minister of
pakistan on climate change
and under the leadership of imran khan
malika
aslam has previously championed the
flagship green growth initiative for the
kp profit
province and now leading the 10 billion
tree project for the entire country
amin aslam
or
i would just like to say that it is a
great privilege
for pakistan to be hosting this world
environment day which is
at the moment streaming live all over
the world
and we have a lot of
viewership looking at pakistan to see
what pakistan is doing
for the world environment day and our
message to the world is
that we have trusted in nature and
nature has paid back to us
and our message is that the world needs
to trust in nature
and it is time for nature thank you very
much
[Music]
what i loved about pakistan was its
wilderness
its mountains i would make sure that we
preserve
this god-given beauty of our country we
started one of the most ambitious
campaigns
to plant one billion trees
in four years and against all odds we
did it
so when i became the prime minister i
resolved that we would plant
10 billion trees in pakistan
we involved the local communities we
first
made them understand how important trees
were for the future
we involved women in mountainous areas
to grow nurseries
and it became one of the most successful
campaigns in our country's history
[Music]
so
[Music]
we are honored to have with us the prime
minister of the united kingdom of great
britain and northern ireland his
excellency
mr boris johnson he has urged the world
leaders to step up with the plans for
fighting climate change
this jacket he is also going to chair
the u.n climate change conference of the
parties in glasgow
november this year please put your hands
together for the prime minister
of the uk his excellency boris johnson
on world environment day i know that
everybody is still focused on
the global pandemic coronavirus that
we've been struggling with but be in no
doubt
what this pandemic is it is mother
nature's revenge upon humanity
for our failure to keep in balance with
the natural world that's what
a zoonotic plague like kovid is
jumping the species barrier because of
the way
we farm wild animals because of the way
we treat
the the natural world and that plague
a coronavirus is going to be dwarfed by
the catastrophic consequences
of humanity's failure to
combat climate change anthropogenic
climate change climate change
is driven uh once again
by our actions and our activity
we need to redouble our efforts
to control the rise in temperature
uh to keep it at 1.5 degrees
that means we all have to make massive
commitments
to transforming our economy
and getting back in
balance with nature
and i salute what uh
prime minister imran khan has done in
promising uh to plant
uh i think 10 billion trees
or a huge uh a campaign of
a foreign station or underway
i still agreed uh what
uh immigration is doing
thank you uh prime minister there was
some technical error
i'll check that
so we'll move on it gives us immense
pleasure
to announce that the president of china
his excellency
xi jinping has shared his
message for today's world environment
day convention
we truly acknowledge his great efforts
for bringing
everyone together for green development
and harmony between man and nature as
they say in china
when people pull together nothing is too
heavy
to be lifted his excellency xi
jinping will also be cheering the un
biodiversity conference in china this
year
i would like to request the chinese
ambassador to pakistan his excellency
no wrong to read out the president's
message for us
please put your hands together for the
ambassador
his excellency mr imahan prime minister
of
pakistan excellencies ladies and
gentlemen
good afternoon on this special day it is
my great honor
to read the congratulatory message sent
by president xi jinping
toward environmental celebrations in
pakistan
congratulatory message by president xi
jinping
toward environmental celebrations in
pakistan
as pakistan successfully hosts world
environment date
2021 in islamabad i wish to extend
hearty congratulations to the government
and the people of pakistan and convey
sincere greetings
to the world leaders and heads of u.n
agencies
attending this event in a year that
marks
the beginning of the u.n decade on
ecosystem restoration 2021
to 2030. it is highly irrelevant
that pakistan hosts world environment
date
celebration under the theme of ecosystem
restoration
planet earth is the one place we all
call home
a sound ecosystem is essential
for the prosperity of civilization
it is imperative that we respect
nature follow its laws and protect it
in order to live in harmony with nature
climate change biodiversity loss
aggravating desertification
and frequent extreme weather events
pose serious changes challenges
to the survival and the development of
humankind with the word being
a community with a sheer future the
international community
must demonstrate ambition and take
actions
like never before to build a fair
and equitable system for global
environmental governance featuring
win-win cooperation
and to promote sustainable development
of humankind
the chinese civilization has long valued
harmony between man and nature the
concept
of ecological conservation has been
incorporated into the overall
plan for building socialism with chinese
characteristics as a
participant contributor and a pace
setter
in the global efforts of ecological
conservation
china is committed to following
multilateralism defending the un
centered international system and the
international order
underpinned by international law
and improving global environmental
governance
as the host of the 15th meeting
of the conference of the parties to the
convention on biological diversity
cop 15 later this year
china will discuss with all parties
things important to ecological
conservation to inject flesh impetus
into global environmental governance
the pakistani government and prime
minister imran
have made the clean green pakistan
movement
a policy priority china commands
pakistan's commitment and stand
ready to work with pakistan and the rest
of the international community
[Applause]
to step up cooperation within the un
flame work
for a community of life for men and
nature
and for a clean and beautiful world
i wish the world enviro environment date
celebration a full success
xi jinping president the people's
republic of china fifth
we are fortunate to have a leader in
imran khan
who has this great vision of making this
planet
a better place to live for generations
to come
thank you imran khan for leading this
great cause
may the almighty help you all the way
ladies and gentlemen please welcome
prime minister of pakistan his
excellency
imran khan pakistan
pakistan
