As part of their World Environment Day 2009 celebrations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Libya, the Environment General Authority, Tripoli Development Authority and the Scouts movement, organized a large public awareness raising event in Tripoli’s famous Green Square, entitled “Make Green Square Greener.”

Hundreds of Scouts gathered in Green Square for the event, some travelling as far as 180km to take part. They participated in a series of quizzes and competitions, with World Environment Day t-shirts and plants offered as prizes. Meanwhile, passers-by were handed out leaflets outlining World Environment Day and explaining ten simple steps for reducing individual carbon emissions.

The event took its inspiration from the global theme for this year’s World Environment Day, “Your Planet Needs You, UNite to Combat Climate Change”, which called upon governments and their citizens to unify in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

A special emphasis was placed on individual responsibility for climate change. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon highlighted in his speech to mark the occasion that “although individual decisions may seem small in the face of global threats and trends, when billions of people join forces in common purpose we can make a tremendous difference.”

In addition to this, attention was focussed on the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, scheduled to take place in December 2009. The international conference is intended to expand upon climate change commitments made at the Kyoto Protocol, and will bring together thousands of individuals from governments, observer organisations and the international media.

Mr. Brian Gleeson, UNDP Resident Representative, delivered a speech which not only called upon government commitment at Copenhagen, but also urged individual’s to respond to the pressing issue of global climate change. He emphasised that international agreements are powerless if realities do not change on the ground.

A key concern in Libya is the need to offer individuals more opportunities to chose a lower carbon lifestyle, Mr Gleeson was adamant that “UNDP is keen to take a lead in spreading environmental awareness, but it is not enough to urge people to recycle when there are not facilities for recycling. It is not enough to urge extol the virtues of public transport, when vast areas of the city has no access to it. We cannot encourage people to walk when there are no safe pedestrian crossings and well-paved footpaths.”

For the Scouts gathered at Green Square, their government and other states’ responses to climate change will have a decisive impact upon their futures and that of their children. Africa stands to be worst affected by climate change, with an estimated 75 to 250 million individuals likely to be affected by severe water shortages by 2020 if significant action is not taken. UNDP Libya hopes that their active involvement in climate change issues will be matched in the international arena and has pledged to continue campaigning for greater attention to the Copenhagen Agreement.