African Union commemorates the Africa Environment Day

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 29, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Invitation to representatives of the media

WHEN: Saturday 03 March 2012, at 14h00

WHERE: AU Commission, Addis Ababa Ethiopia

WHO: Jointly Organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Environment Programmee (UNEP).

WHY:

As part of the Africa Environment Day commemorations, the AUC in collaboration with the United Nations Environmental Programmee will hold a film screening and discussion on the life and legacy of the late Professor Wangari Maathai. (However, the event will also be celebrated under the theme “Lake Chad: Our Common Heritage, Our Common Future”, in Chad on the same date).

OBJECTIVES: - The purpose of the Africa Environment Day celebration is to raise awareness on sustainable environmental management among decision makers at national, regional and continental levels. March 03 has been commemorated by the AUC and the Members States every year since 2003, in order to recall the climate change as the main factor of land degradation and desertification, results of hunger, deprivation, poverty and underdevelopment in Africa.

BACKGROUND:

The Africa Environment Day emanated from the decision of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Council of Ministers in their Seventy-Sixth Ordinary Session, which took place in Durban, South Africa in July 2002. The ministers adopted Decision CM/Dec.685 (LXXVI) calling on all Member States to commemorate March 03 every year as Africa Environment Day.

Journalists are invited to attend and cover the event on Saturday 03 March 2012 at 14:00 at the AU Commission.