Celebrating the establishment of “World Lake Day, ” a new UN observance!
Message from Dr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, ILEC President
“A Global Commitment to Protecting Our Lake – World Lake Day”
On behalf of the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC), I am delighted to congratulate on the adoption of the “World Lake Day” resolution by the United Nations General Assembly.
I am also pleased to learn that this UN decision has designated August 27 as the World Lake Day, in honor of the first World Lake Environment Conference, which was held in Shiga Prefecture, Japan in 1984. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the leadership by the Government of Indonesia in making this historical UN decision realized.
Lakes are an important source of freshwater, a foundation for rich biodiversity, flood and drought management function and an important resource of cultural benefits. However, lakes have faced serious threats from rapid urbanization, industrialization and other impacts such as climate change. In order to address these issues, it is required to further develop international cooperation in an urgent manner.
In line with the UNEA 5.2 resolution on "Sustainable Lake Management,” it is crucial to emphasize the importance of integrated, cross-sectoral, collaborative, and coordinated approaches at all levels for the management and protection of lakes.
The “World Lake Day” provides a platform to raise awareness, promote education, and unite global stakeholders for sustainable lake management. Through integrating science, community action, and enhancing international partnerships, we can safeguard the future of lakes and pave the way toward their sustainable management. In light of this, we reconfirm our commitment to taking concrete actions in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and international environmental agreements.
Our organization, ILEC has brought together experts, communities, and decision-makers through the World Lake Conference and has built worldwide partnership and advanced innovative strategies for sustainable lake management by developing a wide range of activities. ILEC has worked together with key players around the world toward the UN decision on the “World Lake Day. We would like to reaffirm our commitment to address sustainable lake management under the spirit of the “World Lake Day.”
Highlight of "World Lake Day" Resolution
Excerpt from the resolution titled 'World Lake Day' (document A/79/L.39)
- Decides to designate 27 August as World Lake Day, to be observed annually;
- Invites all States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and observers of the General Assembly, as well as the organizations of the United Nations system, other international, regional and subregional organizations and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector and academia, to observe World Lake Day in an appropriate manner through activities aimed at education and awareness-raising of the importance of lakes and preserving, conserving, restoring and sustainably managing lake and related ecosystems;
- Invites the United Nations Environment Programme to facilitate the observance of World Lake Day, mindful of the provisions contained in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67;
- Stresses that the cost of all activities that may arise from the implementation of the present resolution should be met through voluntary contributions, including from the private sector;
- Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and observers of the General Assembly, as well as the organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders, for appropriate observance of World Lake Day.
UN Press Releases: https://press.un.org/en/2024/ga12668.doc.htm
History of World Lake Conference
- You can find detailed information about each World Lake Conference through the linked button below.
