UN Environment’s Brussels Office has mobilised tens of thousands of Europeans to connect with nature on and around 5 June.

Events on the ground organised included an exhibition, a film screening followed by a panel discussion and participation in a major public event in one of the largest parks in Brussels.

Meanwhile, in order to secure political commitments for a connection with nature to be kept in future, a video campaign was launched with key European Union policymakers and politicians. There, they committed to step-up their engagement for the environment or shared their personal experiences of it.

Awareness-raising for the day began in March with the launch of a Forest City Project exhibition. Through stunning photography of forests and illustrations on 10 large exhibit cubes, Brussels citizens were invited to reconnect with nature in the city environment and join the global movement in the run up to World Environment Day. Around 30,000 citizens are estimated to have viewed the exhibition.

Diving, backpacking or strolling through urban gardens are some of the ways European Union officials connect with nature. Given the importance of their connection to it, the policymakers told of how they are committed to protect nature in a video produced for World Environment Day.

EU Commissioner for the Environment Karmenu Vella for example spoke of a plan to better manage Natura 2000 areas – the largest network of protected sites in the world. The move that will “encourage our biodiversity to recover and grow and that will bring people back to nature,” he stressed.

The video was produced by UN Environment in collaboration with the European Commission’s Natura2000 Network, the European Parliament Intergroup on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Sustainable Development and the United Nations Regional Information Centre in Brussels.

Meanwhile, over 15,000 people attended Brussels’ Fête de l’Environnement, where UN Environment had a stand together with partners. An online survey developed in three languages for the event explored visitors’ relationship with nature and its importance for our wellbeing. The marine environment is the most popular place to connect with nature, it revealed.

A CINE-ONU screening of A Plastic Ocean furthermore raised awareness on the problem of marine litter among the 275 viewers attending. A rich panel discussion take place with the film’s producer Jo Ruxton to cap off a wide variety of events and political action garnered in one of the EU’s seats of power.

To view the video with EU policymakers click here. For more information please contact alexa.froger@unenvironment.org