22 April 2022: —UNDP celebrated World Earth Day 2022 in various valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today. World Earth Day is celebrated globally to raise awareness about the importance to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions and keeping global temperatures below 1.5°C.

Together with representatives from Government line departments, the local community, school students and youth volunteers, UNDP’s Scaling up of Glacial Lake outburst floods Risk Reduction in Northern Pakistan (GLOF-II) Project organized plantation drives, clean-up campaigns and awareness sessions in University of Hazara in Swat, Sosat Valley, Gilgit and Khaplu valley in Baltistan. With the support of Forest Department, Gilgit-Baltistan, a plantation drive was also carried out in various schools of Khaplu Valley in which over 1500 evergreen plants were planted. Moreover, multicolored dustbins were also installed at various locations for waste segregation.

In Swat, rescue and relief equipment was also disseminated to enhance the capacities of the Hazard Watch Groups (HWG) created under the Community Based Disaster Risk Management Committees (CBDRMC) Swat. These committees are trained to operate as the first responders during events of disaster in these vulnerable valleys.

The activities for Earth Day, with ‘Invest in our planet’ as the theme for this year, concluded with the pledge for collective action to support environmental protection for a resilient, green, and inclusive future.

For additional information, please contact Ayesha Babar at ayesha.babar@undp.org  or +92 (51) 835 5650

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UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

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