This marks the latest detail of Dubai’s sustainable tourism agenda, which it is building upon with its plans for this year’s Dubai Green Tourism Award to be presented on World Environment Day in December 2009.

The plan coincides with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of UAE and ruler of Dubai – who wants to transform Dubai into a green and environmentally responsible community.

“The programs are part of the department’s efforts to introduce best practices to improve the service standards and excellence in the tourism industry,” said Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM executive director media relations and business development. “This is a major initiative designed to encourage and acknowledge the significant efforts of the emirate’s tourism industry towards sustainable tourism.”

Currently, the average Dubai hotel produces 6,500 tons of CO2 emissions annually and the size of the carbon footprint produced by all hotels in Dubai is estimated to be the equivalent of 60,000 round-trip flights between Dubai and London.

Accdording to Ms. Shaikha Al Mutawa, DTCM director business development, embracing sustainability initiatives will allow Dubai hotels to gain a competitive edge that would undoubtedly have a positive impact on like-minded tour operators.

The DTCM is making the call for corporate social responsibility heard loud and clear across the world in an effort to recognize and confront the challenges of global warming.  While its main focus in on reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption within the tourism industry, it also has its sights set on building environmental guidelines and best practices within the industry, as well as developing awareness about sustainable tourism.

For more information, visit www.dubaitourism.ae/.

Pax Terra is well known for its efforts to promote sustainable global ecotourism as well as gray whale migration protection.

With gray whale migration being a main factor in the long-term economic viability of the Magdalena Bay region of Baja, plans are in motion to develop a sustainable ecotourism industry in the region – allhighlights of the World Environment Day festivities.

Dignitaries from the Mexican Government, a number of NGOs, and the Pax Terra management team will participate in the celebration and other activities planned for the day.

“Gray whale migration is extremely important to marine science,” said Janet Robertson, president of Pax Terra. “The disappearance of the gray whales would be a heartbreaking loss to environmentalists and ecotourists alike.”

The streaming program will include an Environmental Education Contest Award ceremony, a video premiere, a community meeting to promote environmental commitment and activities in support of sustainable ecotourism.

Save the whales, save the world

The western coast of Baja California Sur is home to a group of islands that makes up one of the most productive marine regions of Mexico – its social and ecological importance of the region is undeniable. As well as being a major area for state and national fisheries as well as the natural home for a number of fish and inverterbrates hatching and breeding areas, it is also the birthplace of the gray whale and other marine mammals.

In recent years, the human-friendly gray whales were taken off the endangered species list. But they are now again in danger of extinction.

“If the gray whale is to survive the environmental effects of overfishing and commercial development in or near the protected waters that allow it to thrive, remedial action needs to be taken immediately,” adds Robertson, “including promoting sustainable ecotourism and other methods to help Baja fisherman to maintain and enhance their livelihoods.”

The events scheduled for the World Environment Day Celebration in Baja are expected to launch a major initiative that will be a first step in bringing attention — and major tourism — to the entire Magdalena Bay complex.

Pax Terra supports global efforts to restore nature’s balance and achieve sustainable development with support from the scientific community and experts in social, economic and environmental affairs. It works to promote and support the general welfare of society, and mitigate the environmental effects that have to potential to adversely affect quality of life of the species that inhabits one of the world’s most important ecosystems.

To watch the video, visit http://pax-terra.org/live-video-stream.

With a presence in over 100 countries around the globe, World Environment Day is one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and boosts political attention and action.

With thousands of events in UNEP’s six global regions including North America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and West Asia, World Environment Day is considered one of the largest environmental events of its kind.

Building on the idea that climate change is everyone’s individual responsibility, "Your Planet needs You! Unite to combat climate change" demands action in the face of a potential new climate change deal this coming December. It is a chance for communities throughout the world to show how much they care about the planet.

"On this World Environment Day, I encourage all people to take concrete steps toward making the planet greener and cleaner," said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "Switch off the lights. Take public transportation. Recycle. Plant a tree. Clean up your local park. Hold corporations responsible for their environmental practices. And urge your government representatives to Seal the Deal in Copenhagen."

While World Environment Day is a truly global event, playing the role of host to the main festivities in this third year is Mexico – a leader in global carbon market participation, reforestation campaigns and natural resource management.

"I am delighted that Mexico and its people will be the 2009 global hosts of the annual United nations celebrations on 5 June under the theme ‘Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change’," said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program. "Mexico is among a group of nations showing real leadership on the challenges of our age – from climate change to bringing environmental goods and services into the mainstream of national and international economics."

Headling the festivities in Mexico will be a series of events in Quintana Roo, in the Yucatan Province, includi a conference on the Green Economy with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mexico’s Environment Secretary Juan Elvira Quesada, and Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

There will also be photo exhibits, an art competition, a Maya "Healing the Earth" ceremony, and a Symphonic Visual Concert entitled "The Shield of Nature" by the Philharmonic Choir and World Heritage Orchestra.

‘HOME’ around the world

The global premiere of the new film ‘HOME’, by world-renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, will be one of the major worldwide events taking place at over 100 locations around the world. Screenings – including star-studded premieres at the Eiffel Tower and in New York City’s Central Park – will be free of charge, and the film will also be available for free download on YouTube.

Using the stunning aerial footage that is Arthus-Bertrand’s trademark, the film – shot in more than 50 countries – makes an urgent appeal for the planet in peril and all its treasures, arguing that we have barely ten years left to reverse its destruction.

Climate Heroes

Another highlight this year will be the launch of the Climate Heroes project – a new UNEP initiative that supports individuals who are undertaking exceptional personal feats, high-profile expeditions, and other acts of environmental activism to demonstrate their commitment and to raise awareness of the "Your Planet Needs You" theme.

This year’s Climate Heroes include:

• Roz Savage, who is rowing across the Pacific Ocean to inspire people to take action on CO2 levels by walking more and driving less
• Charles and Sho Scott of Ride Japan, a father-and-son team cycling through Japan to raise environmental awarenes
• David de Rothschild, who is building a boat out of recycled plastic to cross the Pacific and visit the Pacific Garbage Patch and raise awareness of the gigantic problem of waste and overconsumption
• Project Kaisei, a team of innovators who are studying how to capture waste in the ocean, detoxify it, and recycle it into diesel fuel

The North American front

Meanwhile, Omaha, Nebraska will the U.S. host city for WED 2009, in a reflection of the city’s commitment to environmental and sustainability issues.

Ever since Earth Day (April 22nd) events throughout the community have been highlighting resources, initiatives and methods that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.

The city will also hold its own premiere of the film ‘HOME’, and youth events will include an award ceremony for the North American winners of the International Children’s Painting Competition and an interactive environmental workshop for Omaha students.

Here, there and everywhere else

Thousands of other activities will take place around the world for World Environment Day 2009:

Tree plantings around the world: WED 2009 will see a wave of tree planting around the planet as part of UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign, which aims to see 7 billion trees planted by the end of 2009. New partners who have recently come on board include the Scout Movement and the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Tree plantings will range from the massive to the local, with 20,000 mangroves to be planted in Keddah (Malaysia) as well as small-scale plantings by communities around the world, from Sierra Leone to India.

Even more: Twitter campaign: UNEP will plant one tree for every person who follows its new Twitter page www.twitter.com/UNEPandYou by 5 June.

Youth video conference: A videolink will unite youth across three continents – in Nairobi, New York, Panama and Vienna – to discuss their role in promoting awareness and actions on climate change.

World Environment Day events around the world

• Russia: UNEP will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the organizers of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, whereby UNEP will advise the Olympic organizers in their efforts to green the Games – including issues like sustainable transport, renewable energy, ecosystems management, and green procurement among others.
• Afghanistan: A neighbourhood clean-up will take place in Kabul on World Environment Day, along with a series of awareness-raising campaigns through schools and mosques.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: In Sarajevo, the ‘Run to the Hills’ 10-km race will take runners from around Europe up the beautiful forested paths of the Olympic Mountains.
• Nepal: An ‘Ecofootball’ match entitled ‘GOAL-against Climate Change’ will bring together celebrities, politicians and environmentalists, with the aim of raising awareness on climate change and the need for a united response.
• Brazil: An online campaign will call online volunteers to produce, translate and disseminate information and advice on environmentally-friendly lifestyles.
• Kenya: A seafront clean-up will be organized on the island of Lamu with schoolchildren, students, community and government representatives.
• Belgium: The EchoFestival in Brussels’s Royal Park will include a picnic, exhibits, a concert and a fair for a "shared eco-cultural experience".
• Republic of Korea: 30,000 children will take part in a painting competition on the environment.

For more information on World Environment Day 2009, visit www.unep.org/wed/2009 as well as www.sealthedeal2009.org.