“Both climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are crises that can only be addressed by everyone together – as part of a transition to an inclusive and sustainable future,” says United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in his new year message for 2021.
He goes on to say that that the central ambition of the United Nations for 2021 is to build a global coalition for carbon neutrality – net zero emissions – by 2050. Every government, city, business and individual can play a part in achieving this vision, and the UN Environment Programme stands ready to carry out its work to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
For anyone who is enthusiastic about the environment and interested in learning more about our sustainability challenges, be it a business or an individual, here is a list of some important environmental events and days, as per the UNEP. If you are keen on participating in conferences and summits, celebrating environmental days, or raising awareness about key environmental issues, be sure to take a look below.
KEY EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR 2021
25-26 January: Climate Adaptation Summit
22-24 February: The first part of the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) will be held online in view of COVID-19 restrictions. UNEA is the world’s highest environmental decision-making body and the summit is expected to renew calls to protect and restore the natural world.
3 March: World Wildlife Day
22 May: International day for Biological Diversity
May: UN Convention on Biodiversity (COP 15)
5 June: World Environment Day
17 June: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
5-9 July: Fifth Meeting of the International Conference on Chemicals Management
8 June: World Oceans Day
July: UN Ocean Conference
7 September: International Day of Clean Air for blue skies
September: 76th Session of the UN General Assembly
3-11 September: World Conservation Congress hosted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
29 September: International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction
September/October: The Food Systems Summit
October: Second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference
1-12 November: United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26)
1-5 November: Minamata Convention COP4
6 November: International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
7-10 December: Barcelona Convention COP 22
Date to be determined: UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP15)
Also kicking off are two important decades: The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
In addition, 2021 is the International Year of Fruits & Vegetables, intended to raise awareness on the important role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health, as well as in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals.