United Nations Environment Programme  Programme des Nations Unies pour l'environnement  New  York  Office (NYO)

UN friends, ladies and gentlemen, and honoured guests:

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in recent years has made a conscious effort to make a direct connection between the observance of Earth Day -- be it in March or on April 22nd -- and World Environment Day on the 5th of June.  That is -- to connect these two Days in a stream of activities for the benefit of the planet.  The exhibit we are formally opening this evening is but one example of our efforts.

A few months back we entered a new millennium, full of fanfare and hope, cognizant of the past but eager to move ahead.  We entered the new century with the realization that there are many environmental problems confronting us.

Late last year, UNEP published its Global Environment Outlook 2000, an authoritative look at the state of the environment, which noted that full-scale emergencies now existed on a number of issues:

* The world water cycle seems unlikely to be able to cope with the demands that will be made of it in the coming decades.

* Land degradation has reduced fertility and agricultural potential.

* Tropical forest destruction has gone too far to prevent irreversible damage.

* Many of the planet's species have already been lost or condemned to extinction.

* Many marine fisheries have been grossly over-exploited.

* More than half the coral reefs are threatened by human activities.

* Urban air pollution problems are reaching crisis dimensions in many megacities of the developing world.

* That it is probably too late to prevent global warning as a result of increased greenhouse gas emissions; and 1999 was the warmest year on record in many parts of the world.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Environmental Cartoon Exhibition behind me is also a "State of the Environment" report.  Whereas GEO relies on facts, figures and graphs, the cartoons rely on artistry and humour, often letting just the picture tell the story.

Both are tools to raise the level of environmental action and awareness. The environmental cartoons that make up this exhibit are certainly a unique medium of expression and can make a valuable contribution to raising the level of understanding of the issues and problems facing our environment.  The cartoons highlight both the joy and beauty of life, while also focusing on the planet's darker side -- its degradation and inhumanity.

Here in the United States, there have been many cartoonists who have incorporated environmental themes into their work.  They range from Jules Pfeiffer, "Peanuts", "Doonesbury", Gary  arsen's "Far Side" and Dilbert, to "The Lorax" of Dr. Seuss, and many, many more.

However, there is one famous cartoon that sort of raises environmental awareness in one very short, poignant strip.  Walt Kelly's "Pogo", quite a few years ago, took a look at the pollution increasingly affecting the swamp that his characters called home and pronounced: "We have met the enemy and it be us!"

Ladies and gentlmen, the exhibition we open tonight also looks candidly at humankind's impact on the environment.    Just as GEO 2000 carries an urgent warning to us all, so too do the cartoons offer graphic commentary on our world and sound an alarm that we all must heed.

Thank you all for coming and I hope you enjoy the exhibit.

     Last Updated: 11 May 2000
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