June 5, World Environment Day is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Each World Environment Day is organized around a theme that draws attention to a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme of 2022 is ‘Only One Earth’, focusing on “Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature,” encouraging everyone, everywhere, to live sustainably. Today World Environment Day comes with the planet facing multiple crises, from climate change to loss of biodiversity and increased carbon emissions. This day reminds people’s power and individual responsibility towards taking care of their planet and developing sustainable living by protecting all species. By 2050, if current consumption and production patterns remain the same and with a rising population expected to reach 9.6 billion, therefore, three planets will be needed to sustain our way of life. Ex-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, remarks "There can be no Plan B because there is no planet B." To preserve this planet echoing this year's theme of World Environment Day "Only One Earth" focusing on living sustainably in harmony with nature.

This show why World Environment Day is important and worth celebrating.  We can all contribute to the protection of the environment by making small changes in our lifestyle and daily practice.  Please take action to leave a better and safer planet for the coming generation.

Prof. Dr. Ayşenur Uğurlu

Chairperson