Commemoration of the Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day
In January 2012, the African Union (AU) adopted a decision to immortalize Wangari Mathai through joint commemoration of Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day in recognition of the work and life of the late Professor Wangari Maathai who dedicated her life to promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development in Africa and the first African Woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Wangari Maathai was a visionary leader who devoted her life to promoting sustainable development and protecting the environment. She believed that every individual has the power to make a positive impact on our planet, and her legacy continues to inspire us to this day.
In honor of Wangari Maathai's legacy and to promote her vision of a greener and more sustainable world, the goal for this year's World Environment Day is accelerating land restoration, drought resilience & desertification progress. Planting a tree is one of the simplest and most effective ways to restore land, protect biodiversity, and improve the quality of the air we breathe and the water we all depend on. The Green Belt Movement which she was a pioneer, has planted over 50 million trees in Kenya and inspired similar other parts of the world. Let us plant a tree, reduce our carbon footprint, and promote sustainable practices in our daily lives. By working together, we can create a better, more sustainable future for ourselves and for generations to come. The time to take action is now.
As a university, we have a special responsibility to lead by example and promote sustainable practices in our operations and activities. We have already taken steps to reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainability on our campuses, and we are committed to doing even more in the future.
The Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental studies (WMI) continues to honour, recognize, celebrate and advance the works of the Novel Laureate, through promotion of good environmental practices and cultivation of a culture of peace by shaping values, ethics and attitudes through experiential learning and mentorship using interdisciplinary approach. The overall aim of the Institute is to cultivate better environmental stewardship and management of resources and ultimately a reduction in related conflicts.
