By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm, May 31, ChinaEuropedialogue–With the world facing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and waste, Stockholm+50 offers an opportunity to reflect, connect and accelerate urgent action on the environment, harnessing the historical spirit of the 1972 conference.

“Life is one and the world is one, and all these questions are inter-linked. The population explosion, poverty, ignorance and disease, the pollution of our surroundings, the stockpiling of nuclear weapons and biological and chemical agents of destruction are all parts of a vicious circle. Each is important and urgent but dealing with them one by one would be wasted effort,” said Indira Gandhi, late Prime Minister of India in her speech at the 1972 Stockholm Conference. “There is no alternative to a cooperative approach on a global scale to the entire spectrum of our problems.”

More than 10 heads of state/ government and 90-plus ministers from 130 participating member states, as well as representatives from civil society and the private sector, have confirmed their attendance in Stockholm to discuss international cooperation and collaboration to tackle the triple planetary crisis. (Numbers are subject to updates.)

Mutually reinforcing the call for urgent actions towards sustainability, World Environment Day 2022, a global platform for inspiring positive change, will be observed on 5 June. The UN international day was formalized at the Stockholm Conference 50 years ago has grown to be a significant moment every year for environmental outreach, with millions of people from across the world engaging to protect the planet.This year’s theme #OnlyOneEarth was also the slogan of the 1972 Stockholm Conference; 50 years on, this truth still holds – this planet is our only home.