The idea of World Environment Day was born 50 years ago at the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. It was born out of an understanding that we need to stand up, to protect the air, land, water on which we depend. It was born out of an understanding that the power of people matters, and matters greatly.

Today, as we look to a present and future of heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires, pandemics, dirty air, wars, and plastic-ridden oceans – action is more important than ever. And we are running against the clock. This is on all of us. This means politicians that see beyond election cycles to intergenerational wins. This means financial institutions that finance the planet. This means businesses that account for nature. This means a just and clean energy transition. This means people making smarter choices on what to eat, to wear, and how to live. This means cities where we can breathe. And this means legislators who protect the human right to a healthy environment.

The movement that began in 1972, stands at a critical juncture today. It is now or never. Because we are one people and we have only one earth. We have only one home. And that is worth standing up for.