Lebanese landmarks lit in Green in celebration of World Environment Day-Gathering at Golf Club of Lebanon urges nature protection

In line with the global campaign launched by United Nations Environment (UNEP), the fields of the Golf Club of Lebanon were lit up last night in green to celebrate World Environment Day. This came during a gathering organized by Lebanon Eco Movement and its associations and the Golf Club, in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre in Beirut (UNIC Beirut) and UNEP. 

In parallel, various Lebanese landmarks were lit up in green: Bcharre Cedar Forest; Bisri meadow (Marj Bisri), Chouf Maasser Park House; Rachid Nakhleh Cultural Center, Barouk; Municipality of Saida, Zgharta Serail and Ehden Nature Reserve Visitor Centre. 

Representatives of governments and international organizations participated in the event, including the Ambassador of Poland to Lebanon, Wojciech Bożek; World Food Program Lebanon Country Director, Dominik Heinrich and Public Information Officer at UNIC Beirut Cynthia Khoury representing the Centre's Director Margo El-Helou. Local authorities and civil society organizations also participated, including the Mayors of Haret Hreik and Burj El Barajneh; President of Lebanon Eco Movement Paul Abi Rached; President of the Lebanese Green Party Nada Zaarour, members of the board of governors of the Golf Club, as well as representatives of affiliated associations, environmental activists and media representatives. 

During the meeting, Khoury delivered a speech on behalf of UNIC Beirut's Director, referring to the theme of this year's World Environment Day, "Connecting People to Nature", which urges people to enjoy and protect nature. Khoury also spoke about the five points that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged on 30 May 2017 to address climate change, namely: intensifying high-level political engagement to raise the bar on climate action; rallying the full capacity of the United Nations development system behind climate action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; working with Governments and all major actors to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy; working with countries to support implementation of their national climate action plans; and encouraging new and strengthened partnerships for implementing the Paris Agreement. 

Abi Rached said the aim of the meeting was to draw people's attention to the decreasing green spaces in Lebanon and to urge them to work to preserve what remains. He called on everyone to protect nature and learn from leaders in environmental activism: resilience, determination, giving, courage, perseverance and patriotism. He stressed the importance of countries and governments committing to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 to secure sustainability of the planet, particularly by addressing climate change (Goal 13), preserving life on land (Goal 15), combating poverty and hunger (Goals 1 and 2) among others. 

In her statement, Lina Nasser Shawqi, member of the Board of Directors and the Public Relations Committee of the Golf Club praised the United Nations' positive initiative to celebrate World Environment Day since 1972. She said that the doors of the club are open to all people and all associations that believe in preserving the environment, nature and sports, noting that the club's successive boards were able to maintain this green space in spite of great challenges. She pointed out that lighting the club grounds in green is "to highlight our responsibility to maintain this place and to indicate that we are all part of nature." 

Following the opening, Lebanon Eco Movement's affiliated associations presented the Golf Club with one hundred trees, and honored key Lebanese environmental activists, including Dr. Zeinab Moukalled, Dr. Yousef Tawq, Ms. Gladys Nader, Mr. Pierre Abi Chahine, Mr. Nouhad Zailaa, and Mr. Hafez Jreij. 

In conclusion, participants were invited to an Iftar by the Golf Club of Lebanon. 

The United Nations celebrates World Environment Day on 5 June every year since 1972. It is the United Nations' most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. The theme of this year is "Connecting People to Nature", which aims to encourage people to enjoy and protect nature, and appreciate its beauty and importance in the sustainability of the planet.