World Environment Day, recognised annually on June 5th, is a global platform that mobilises millions of people for environmental action. This year, the focus is on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. At EcoOnline, we are committed to these efforts, and we invite you to join us in making a tangible difference.
The urgency of land restoration cannot be overstated. Up to 40% of the planet’s land is degraded, affecting half of the world’s population and threatening half of global GDP (approximately £34.45 trillion). Since the year 2000, the number and duration of droughts have increased by 29%, with dangerous impacts to over three-quarters of the world's population by 2050, if no urgent action is taken.
Did you know?
Click the cards below to learn more interesting facts about the environment.
Find out more about soil.
More than half of all species live in the soil, making it the planet’s most biodiverse habitat. Soil also supports vegetation and animals living above the ground – in places like grasslands, forests and shrublands.
Find out more about freshwater.
Around 3% of water on Earth is freshwater and much of this is in frozen ice caps or deep underground. In many parts of the world freshwater supplies are threatened by climate change.
Find out more about forests.
Forests, which cover about 31% of the Earth’s surface, are home to more than half of the world’s terrestrial species and play a crucial role in carbon storage and regional climate regulation.
Find out more about drylands.
Drylands are areas that get less than 150 mm rainfall per year. They cover about 40% of Earth’s land surface and are home to more than 2 billion people.
To embrace our ability to foster regeneration and renewal, we invite everyone in our community to engage with us in meaningful actions that contribute to a sustainable future.
Kick-starter ideas on how you can contribute to make a difference:
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: By consuming fewer new materials, you contribute to reducing the burden on land-based natural resources. Make a commitment to reduce your waste, reuse materials whenever possible, and recycle. Start by bringing reusable bags to the grocery store and using reusable water bottles and coffee cups.
- Educational Workshops: Attend workshops or webinars to learn more about environmental issues like desertification, land degradation, and how to combat them. Knowledge is power in the fight against ecological degradation.
- Volunteering: Volunteer with local conservation groups for activities such as beach clean-ups, park maintenance, or wildlife conservation projects.
EcoOnline's commitments
EcoOnline has a track record of supporting land and forest protection and restoration efforts through several projects, notably Forests 2020. This is a £40 million investment by the UK Space Agency and six tropical countries to improve the monitoring of forests and forest change and to better understand the risks of deforestation.
Through our software products, we help many companies identify potential biodiversity and climate risks in land owned by them or within their supply chains. We are helping several companies report on progress towards Science Based Targets within the forests, agriculture and land use sectors. Our mapping technologies are also helping commodity importers to comply with EU regulations on avoiding deforestation within their supply chains.
We all have a part to play
Ecosystems support all life on earth. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet and its people. Preventing, halting, and reversing the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean is crucial to help end poverty, combat climate change, and prevent mass extinction. It will only succeed if everyone plays a part!
At EcoOnline, we continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible in environmental sustainability. Join us in celebrating World Environment Day under the official #GenerationRestoration movement and take action to help us ensure a resilient, thriving future for our planet!
To find out more about EcoOnline’s impact and what we’ve been doing to help the planet, check out our ESG and Sustainability Report 2023:
