This year’s celebration was held under the theme ‘Seven Billion Dreams: One Planet. Consume with Care’.  The celebration was inaugurated by HE the Minister of Environment Ahmed Amer Mohamed Al-Humaidi and HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassem al-Thani, Anna Paolini, Director of UNESCO Doha, Chief Commercial Officer of Oryx GTL Mohamed al-Mushiri along with several Ministry officials.

The week lasting photograph exhibition named ‘Life in Arkiya’  displays nearly 120 photographs of rare birds and animals in the Qatari national reserve of Arkiya, taken by talented students and aimed to increase public awareness about the environment and wildlife issues.

Such activity aims at encouraging environmentally friendly behaviors, promoting the conservation of natural resources, and building a committed and responsible lifestyle that values the environment among citizens and residents in Qatar.

The activity in Qatar is also in accordance with the UNESCO vision for this anniversary, highlighted by HE Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO: “ We need green societies to build green economies.  We must act in a holistic manner, across the board, starting with individual women and men. We work also to  harness  the  power  of  science,  technology  and  innovation  to  strengthen knowledge,  to  safeguard  biodiversity  through  Biosphere  Reserves,  and  to strengthen the links between the sciences and policy.”