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UNEP, Earth’s Natural Force and DDOE Rally Local Environmental Community to “Unite for a Sustainable DC”

WASHINGTON (April 24, 2012) — WHAT: Today, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) and Earth’s Natural Force kick off the six-week “Bridge the Gap” period linking Earth Day (April 22) and World Environment Day (WED) (June 5) with nearly 20 local partners hosting more than 30 official WED DC events. Local environmental activists are encouraged to register their event and/or take part in a host of sustainability and energy-efficiency activities throughout the Washington, DC area during this time. Earlier this year, UNEP selected Washington, DC as the North American Host city for WED 2012 with the regional theme, “Unite for a Sustainable DC.” Participants and interested parties are encouraged to register their awareness activity on the official WED DC website: http://ddoe.dc.gov/worldenvironmentday.

Select WED DC Events include:

April 22: Earth Day on the National Mall
May 24: SEU/OPC Education Forum
June 2: Empowerhouse Energy Efficiency Workshops and Solar Home Tour
June 3-4: WED Fair & Expo
June 3 at the Fair: Earth Force Youth Summit
June 4: Student Environmental Workshop with Dr. Mae Jemison and International Children’s Painting Competition Awards Ceremony
June 5: Panel Discussion on Achieving Global Transformation for Sustainable Cities with UNEP, USGBC and World Business Council
June 6: Press Conference and release of UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook report
Ongoing: DC School Assemblies Presenting Energy Efficiency and Renewable Activities

INTERVIEW OPPS: Allen Burriss, WED DC Host Committee Chair and CEO, Earth’s Natural Force  Amy Fraenkel, Director of UNEP’s Regional Office for North America  Sharon Cooke, Chief, Office of Community Relations, DDOE

WHEN: April 22, 2012 through June 5, 2012

BACKGROUND: World Environment Day, established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1972 and celebrated annually on June 5, is a global event that raises awareness about the environment in an effort to galvanize political attention and action. With thousands of events in the UN’s six global regions, World Environment Day is considered one of the largest environmental events of its kind. To learn more, visit: http://www.unep.org/wed/

CONTACT:
Matt Forke, (202) 248-5484, moc.mmocnavnull@ekrofm
Elisabeth Guillbaud-Cox, (202) 974-1307, gro.penunull@xoc-duabliug.htebasile

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