Correct Answer : Option (C) - May 22
The International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated every year on May 22. This year, it falls on a Wednesday. The theme for 2024 is “Be Part of the Plan.”
This theme encourages governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, non-governmental organizations, lawmakers, businesses, and individuals to showcase their efforts in supporting the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan.
History of International Day for Biodiversity :
The
International Day for Biological Diversity was established by the Second Committee of the
UN General Assembly in 1993. Originally, it was celebrated on
December 29 to mark the day the Convention on Biological Diversity came into effect. However, on December 20, 2000, the date was changed to May 22. This change was made to commemorate the adoption of the Convention at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992 and to avoid the many holidays in late December.
Significance of International Day for Biodiversity :
The International Day for Biological Diversity is closely aligned with the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals address a wide range of global issues, emphasizing the critical role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth. Biodiversity significantly impacts:
* Oceans and Seas
* Forests
* Food Security
* Health
* Sustainable Development
* Science, Technology, and Innovation
* Knowledge-Sharing and Capacity-Building
* Urban Resilience
* Sustainable Transportation
* Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought
* Water and Sanitation
The importance of biodiversity in sustainable development was highlighted in the Rio+20 outcome document, “The World We Want: A Future for All.” This year’s celebration aims to build momentum leading up to the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16), scheduled to be held in Colombia from October 21 to November 1, 2024.