The World Customs Organization (WCO) joins the international community every year on 5 June to celebrate the World Environment DayThis is an important day that serves as a reminder of the need to continue raising awareness about environmental issues, particularly why preserving the environment is essential for human sustainability, and to reiterate our commitment to protecting our home: the Earth.
The WCO once again stands in solidarity with its partners, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), in supporting efforts to ensure environmental sustainability.
The theme for World Environment Day 2020 is biodiversity, and efforts are coming together under the call “It’s time for nature.” Biodiversity encompasses the vast variety of life on Earth, including its estimated 8 million species and all of its genetic diversity (plants, animals, insects, even fungi and bacteria), as well as its ecosystems.
Today, biodiversity faces a serious threat. Over the past 50 years, the world's population has doubled, the global economy has almost quadrupled, and international trade has increased tenfold. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), it would take 1.6 planet Earths to meet humanity's current demands on nature each year. It is in this context that World Environment Day 2020 calls for urgent action to protect biodiversity.
In response, the WCO has dedicated 2020 to Customs' contribution towards a sustainable future where social, economic, health and environmental needs are at the heart of its actions. The WCO theme is "Customs that foster sustainability for people, prosperity and the planet", calling on all WCO members to step up their efforts to thwart criminal efforts and protect people and the planet.
«By systematically disrupting environmental criminal networks, Customs contributes to preserving biodiversity", He said WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya that holds the top spot. "In fact, Customs is the first point of entry and the last point of exit, making it a critical player in law enforcement efforts to combat environmental crimes., Agregó.
The WCO continuously supports its Members and its network of Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILOs) in their compliance efforts by delivering training, regularly updating its training materials and ensuring that Customs remains alert to any events that may have a negative impact on the environment.
Through its Environment Programme, the WCO supports and guides its Members in tackling all forms of trade-related environmental crime, including illegal trade in wildlife and timber, illicit shipments of waste and chemicals, as well as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Given its responsibility to address such a broad range of issues, Customs’ efforts to secure global supply chains will continue to be strengthened.
Source: OMA
#WorldEnvironmentDay 2020 urges for the preservation of #biodiversity@UNEP @CITES @ICCWC @GreenCustoms #ForNature #WCO #Customs #SDGhttps://t.co/fR40hrBZFD pic.twitter.com/887G4R9aeE
— WCO_OMD (@WCO_OMD) June 5, 2020
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