KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu will lead an Environment Month celebration at the Durban Beachfront, KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, 20 June 2014.
The Department of Environmental Affairs will partner with the province of KwaZulu-Natal and the Ethekwini Municipality to take the celebrations to the Durban Beachfront. The theme for this year’s celebration is “International Year of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS)” and the slogan “Raise your voice, not the sea level.”
While World Environment Day is commemorated on 5 June annually, June has been declared as national environment month in South Africa. The World Environment Day 2014 theme was adopted as the theme for national Environment month and focuses on Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and their development challenges and successes. Small islands are the most susceptible to natural and environmental disasters, climate change and sea – level rise.
World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment with the aim of becoming one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and to encourage positive environmental action.
In South Africa, coastal human settlements are also affected by the increase in sea-level due to climate change. The 3 650 km coastline is increasingly becoming vulnerable to storm surges, coastal erosion, sea level rise and extreme weather events such as flooding, that may result in the loss of coastal infrastructure.
Media is invited to attend as follows:
Date: Friday, 20 June 2014
Time: 9h00 – 13h00
Venue: Golden Mile, Durban Beachfront, KwaZulu-Natal
RSVP:
Sithokozile-Banele Mabena
Cell: 073 297 9409
Tel: 012 395 1607
Email: SMabena@environment.gov.za
Simangele Mabusela
Tel: 012 395 1824
Email: SMabusela@environment.gov.za
For media enquiries:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
