Media Release 5 June 2007

Communities taking action on climate change on World Environment Day

A unique Australian idea, Clean Up the World, is helping communities around the world take action today to improve their environment and limit the impacts of climate change as part of the United Nation's World Environment Day 2007.

The theme of World Environment Day 2007 is ‘Melting Ice - A Hot Topic?" focusing on one of the greatest challenges facing our generation - climate change. Members of Clean Up the World will be in action today and the estimated 35 million people involved in the campaign will continue to take action through to the Clean Up the World Weekend on 14-16 September.

At a press conference in Canberra with the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer, Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the UN's Australian representative Abdullah Saleh Mbamba, leading Australian environmentalist and founder of Clean Up the World Ian Kiernan AO said the campaign had spread to more than 120 countries and provided a human face of climate change.

"Communities around the world already face water shortages, more frequent and intense storms and drought, a greater spread of tropical diseases and food insecurity as a result of climate change," Mr Kiernan said.

Details of activities being undertaken by Clean Up the World members for World Environment Day can be found at www.cleanuptheworld.org

Protecting water sources, tree planting, waste reduction and energy conservation are just some of the actions members of Clean Up the World will focus on as part of World Environment Day to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect against the impacts of climate change, Mr Kiernan said.

"With the help of the United Nations Environment Programme around the world, members of Clean Up the World will receive a range of support materials to help drive local projects and assist with implementation of environmental activities in local communities."

Mr Abdullah Saleh Mbamba said Clean Up the World is a practical and immediate way for communities to reduce some of the causes of climate change.

"We must all take action. Governments must take leadership but using simple, easy to achieve steps, communities can make a difference. The United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations Information Centres are working with Clean Up the World to help build a more sustainable world."

Media contact:
Photographs and detailed information about Clean Up the World activities in your area/country are available on request from Ms Alana Mew, ph: +612 8280 9100 or +614 2327 7567 email.
 
About Clean Up the World:
Clean Up the World is a campaign held in conjunction with our Primary Partner UNEP.  For detail of the support provided by our partners or for more information on the Clean Up the World campaign visit our website www.cleanuptheworld.org