The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) annually organizes events for World Environment Day, the most renowned day for environmental action which encourages worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment. It is celebrated every 5^th of June in over 100 countries.

In 2020, the theme is biodiversity– a concern that is both urgent and existential. Recent events, from bushfires in Brazil, the United States, and Australia to locust infestations across East Africa – and now, a global disease pandemic – demonstrate the interdependence of humans and the webs of life, in which they exist.

In the Philippines, the Environmental Management Bureau- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) will be joining the nation in celebrating the month of June 2020 as the Philippine Environment Month, and June 5, 2020, as World Environment Day, with the theme, "Protect Nature, Sustain our Future #WeHealNature4OurFuture".

In a Facebook post of EMB Central office, they said that the theme for this year's celebration was taken from the global theme of World Environment Day, "Time for Nature" with the message, “The food we eat, the water we drink, and everything that we need to survive, comes from nature.”

“We must care for nature and our environment, in order to care for ourselves and to sustain our needs, even though our country and the entire world, are battling with the challenges of COVID 19. And as we do our best to heal, we should also do what we can for nature and the environment to heal as well,” EMB emphasized on why we should all take our parts in protecting our environment in a Facebook post.

Amid the pandemic, this year’s activities will all be held virtually. The bureau has launched "EnviEducaSong" which features song covers of original compositions of the EMB Environmental Singing Ambassadors, culled from the KANTALIKASAN Album.

The video aims to educate the public about environmental protection, through music. All songs from the KANTALIKASAN Album are also available for download and streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer.

Just click the link below if you want to listen and download the official playlist:

https://backl.ink/1975707

Also, “Greenviro Games” has begun today as one of the main activities this year. It’s a series of online learning games that consist of trivia quizzes with exciting prizes and surprises await for those lucky ecowarriors for the whole month of June.

For the mechanics, see the post below:

DENR Regional offices were also prepared for some online contests and activities in line with the celebration of Philippine Environment Month and World Environment Day 2020 such as photography contest, poetry making contest, and many more just for all dedicated green warriors out there.

Last year’s celebration was a blast as the problem of air pollution was highlighted and addressed then. The ‘Mask Challenge’ campaign to #BeatAirPollution has paved the way to numerous causes across the globe by the initiatives of green advocates and fighters.

This year as we face another battle, let us protect nature, sustain our environment and natural resources, and heal as one because now is the time for nature.