Many species. One planet. One future

World Environment Day, commemorated on 5 June since 1972, is one of the ways in which the United Nations focuses world attention on the environment and encourages political action. Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of people from countries all over the world have mobilized for individual and organized environmental action. Activities involve all sectors of society – governments, non- and inter-governmental organizations, businesses, industries, civil society, media and schools.

This year’s theme is “Many species. One planet. One future”. It closely echoes the call of this year’s International Year of Biodiversity to raise awareness of the vital importance of the millions of species that inhabit our planet’s soils, forests, oceans, coral reefs and mountains. These complex intertwined systems and processes collectively provide our food, water and the air we breathe – the basic fundamentals of life. Biodiversity is also the foundation for agriculture and, together, both are crucial for maintaining and improving food security.

IFAD works with impoverished communities in some of the harshest and most remote areas of the world, promoting sustainable water and land management practices that help protect the environment. About two thirds of the programmes and projects that IFAD supports are related to community-based sustainable natural resource management. We work mainly in marginal, rainfed areas that are vulnerable to water shortages, land degradation and desertification. Adaptation to climate variability and strengthening resilience to environmental stress have always been part of IFAD’s work. Poor rural people and their institutions are at the core of our approach, and each IFAD programme and project is subject to environmental screening before approval.

Join the worldwide celebration of positive action for the environment: visit the World Environment Day website.