NEW YORK, June 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — UNITED NATIONS PLAZA — In celebration of the first ever United Nations Ocean Conference, June 5-9, internationally renowned marine life artist Wyland will create a live painting during the World Environment Day Green Fair at the United Nations Visitors Plaza from noon-3 pm, Monday, June 5. The painting will commemorate the signing of a new joint partnership between the Wyland Foundation and the United Nations Environment Program to protect the global marine environment through the Wyland World Water Pledge, a 10-year outreach program to inspire and engage every person on earth about the sustainable use of the planet’s ocean, lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands.
“We realize to protect our ocean today we need to protect all our water,” said Wyland, who is best known for his Whaling Walls, a series of 100 life-size marine life murals around the world. “That’s why we are asking for the participation of all seven and a half billion people.”
The Wyland World Water Pledge will tie directly to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources, including Goals 6 (Clean Water, 11 (Sustainable Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (Life On Land). The Wyland World Water Pledge will work closely with UN Environment’s North America office and tie to research and efforts currently underway by the UN Environment’s Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities. The GPA is the only global initiative directly addressing the connectivity between terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems.
The Wyland World Water Pledge (wylandworldwaterpledge.com), includes an online tool that connects people from all nations to a digital commons of UN Environment identified water-based issues and challenges (hotspots) around the world, and encourages residents to make a series of pledges online to save water, cut pollution, promote healthy habitats, and consume more sustainably. At the conclusion of the pledge, participants can see the potential individual and collective impact of those commitments over the next year in the form of gallons of water saved, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced pollution, and share that information through their communities and interconnected social networks. With support from leading organizations and scientists such as Dr. Sylvia Earle, the Wyland World Water Pledge will grow and evolve over the next decade to meet the changing conditions of the world’s marine resources.
About the Wyland Foundation
Founded in 1993 by environmental artist Wyland (best known for his series of 100 monumental marine life murals), the Wyland Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, brings communities together to become more solution-oriented stewards of our global marine resources. Notable programs include the Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation in partnership with the Toyota, US EPA, National League of Cities, and the Toro Company. Find out more at www.wylandfoundation.org
About UN Environment
UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and other UN entities and international organizations across the world. Find out more at http://unep.org/
CONTACT: CONTACT: Steve Creech, 949-436-2489