EIF commemorates Environment Day
Together with the rest of the globe, the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) commemorated World Environment Day on 5 June.World Environment Day 2022 was celebrated with “Only One Earth” as the theme, focussing on living sustainably in harmony with nature.
World Environment Day was first observed with the slogan “Only One Earth” 50 years ago in Sweden. Five decades later, it still stands true as the earth is still our only home, and humanity must safeguard its finite resources.
Furthermore, Environment Day aims to encourage people to take action and protect the environment. This year’s main event was hosted in Sweden alongside the Stockholm+50 conference under the theme “A healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity”, to discuss urgent and bold actions needed to secure a more sustainable future.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on governments to “shift to a circular and regenerative economy”, claiming that GDP is no longer a correct way to measure richness in today's world. “We must place true value on the environment and go beyond Gross Domestic Product as a measure of human progress and well-being.”
The EIF’s chief executive Benedict Libanda echoed this year’s theme by highlighting that “living in harmony with nature is the only choice we have and there is no other choice. On this day, let’s be reminded that we have Only One Earth and that nature is at the heart of development and a strong enabler for achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals and we must all we can to protect it and live sustainably because when you take care of nature it takes care of you.”
The EIF in commemorating this day recognizes that we have “Only One Earth” and that as a nation we should scale up efforts and partnerships for promoting nature-based solutions and climate action for the benefit of all Namibians.
“Nature and climate action are opportunities for economic growth and social development. The potential for green jobs exist and we must as a nation diversify our range of financial options to support the development agenda, including through innovative and green finance and catalyse innovation and lead to positive impact on sustainability by changing the way we produce and consume, and more broadly interact with nature and its resources,” Libanda said.
“Man has the fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate conditions of life, in an environment of quality that permits a life of dignity and wellbeing, and he bears a solemn responsibility to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations. It is key to scale up efforts to sensitise and empower citizens to act and make smart choices. This is particularly true for the youth who also, thanks to higher education and exposure (for instance, through social media), is more sensitive to sustainability issues,” Libanda concluded.