World Environment Day 2008 to be hosted by New Zealand with focus on fostering low-carbon economies

Citation

(2008), "World Environment Day 2008 to be hosted by New Zealand with focus on fostering low-carbon economies", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 19 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2008.08319bab.005

World Environment Day 2008 to be hosted by New Zealand with focus on fostering low-carbon economies

New Zealand, one of the first countries to pledge a carbon-neutral future, will be the main host of World Environment Day 2008, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced. The challenge of climate change and threats to polar regions and beyond were spotlighted in Norway as part of World Environment Day (WED) 2007.

The focus of the global 2008 celebrations hosted in New Zealand will be on the solutions and the opportunities for countries, companies and communities to “Kick the habit” and make the transition to a low carbon economy and lifestyle.

Measures include greater energy efficiency in buildings and appliances, including light bulbs, up to a switch towards cleaner and renewable forms of electricity generation and transport systems. The focus will also be on the role of forests in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. An estimated 20 per cent of emissions contributing to climate change globally are a result of deforestation. New Zealand, where forestry is an important industry and conservation of forests is a high priority, plans to use WED to highlight the role technologies and forestry management can play in achieving domestic and international climate goals.