The 2017 World Environment Day will be officially launched at Varirata National Park outside Port Moresby today (Monday, June 5).
The event will be launched by the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA).
The highlight of the event will be a solo walk by a climate change advocate, who will walk from the city all the way up to Varirata National Park, which is 48km east outside of Port Moresby.
He will be given an opportunity as a guest speaker at the launch.
The United Nations Global Theme for the 2017 World Environment Day is, “Connecting People to Nature”, which was further translated down to a national theme, which is “Appreciate and Conserve our Land and our Seas”.
Huge supporter of World Environment Day, the Port Moresby Nature Park (POMNP) aims to inspire people understand and connect to nature.
POMNP general manager Michelle McGeorge said the national theme highlights the importance of preserving and protecting nature.
McGeorge said PNG is like no other country and people fly from all over the world because they hear about the amazing and diverse plants and animals found in the country.
“It’s up to each of us to really look towards how we can conserve our environment and oceans but also to making sure that we can also do it by also promoting sustainability.
“We must balance both, looking after ourselves and our communities and also protecting the environment,” McGeorge said.
Participants at the launch will include development stakeholder partners like Total E&P, ExxonMobil and the Head of Mission for UNDP.