Patricia Okoed Bukumunhe, UNEP’s Young Environmental Journalist 2011, Capital Radio, Kampala, Uganda

– June 3, 2011

© UNEP

“Saving our planet should become more than just a conscious decision but an innate pattern of our lives. World Environment Day should be a time to reflect on what we as individuals have done to save Mother Earth. Today more than ever is when we need youth to step forward with their young, fresh minds and capabilities to save our planet. I ask for nothing more than for us all to buckle our seat belts, tighten our shoe-laces and speed up our journey to achieving a green world economy. It takes very little, costs nothing and yet impacts so much.”

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3 Comments

1. Reply

   Patricia Okoed Bukumunhe

   Posted June 5, 2011 at 12:48 PM

   Truly humbled and honored for the award……moving one, India could not have been the best host for WED celebrations this year. Environmental Minister Jaram Ramesh just announced India will be factoring environmental costs in its GDP..By 2015 the country will be among the first to account for environmental issues in its annual growth …this adjusted GDP will ofcourse be announced alongside conventional GDP.

2. Reply

   Patricia Okoed Bukumunhe

   Posted June 5, 2011 at 1:07 PM

   So….the “Forests in a green economy” report has been launched by UNEP executive Director Achim Steiner along with Indian Environment Minister Jaram Ramesh, UN resident representative Patrice Coeur Rizot and Mr Pushpam Kumar, the head of the TEEB study….”not another report” you may say…….if I could just highlight afew remarkable points contained wherein, I am sure I could convince you otherwise…

   Did you know that
   1. Investing an additional US $40bln a year in the forestry sector could HALVE deforestation rates by 2030!!
   2. Carefully planned investments in the forest sector could increase employment from 25mln today to 30mln by 2050!

   The report says the main challenge is to make forests an attractive investment opportunities to lure the private sector and corporations…how so you may ask?….we’re talking about bonds, subsidies, Payment for ecosystems services (PES)…to mention just a few….

   I’ll be back

3. Reply

   Patricia Okoed Bukumunhe

   Posted June 5, 2011 at 1:25 PM

   Never seen anything like it in my life – the auto rikshaw of Delhi I mean…one of the most amazing creations of mankind. Not because of its seeming awkwardness but more so becasue the 3-wheeled public means of transport operate wholly on Compressed Natural Gas, no toxins, no petrol……The tricycles have left Delhi with the freshest air one would never expect from a quickly emerging economy….I couldn’t think of a greener way to exit Delhi as I head to the airport to grab my flight home!!!