World Environment Day Festival brings the action

Belinda Baggs and Lucia Santiago at the For the Ocean event on 25 June at Thomas Surfboards, Noosa.

The Sunshine Coast Environment Council’s (SCEC) World Environment Day Festival 2022 was a huge success with a month-long program of events and activities in June.

The theme for this year’s event was Only One Earth and called for transformative collective action to protect the earth.

Eighteen events were held this month with 13 event partners, creating a truly immersive experience.

In a time of climate emergency and biodiversity crisis, SCEC says it’s time for transformative action by all levels of government, industry, business and community to protect and restore our earth.

Events included the Doonan Planting Festival, with over 1000 trees planted at the Doonan Creek Environment Reserve, For the Ocean with panel discussions facilitated by National Campaign Manager for Surfrider Foundation Australia Drew McPherson, Noosa Councillor Tom Wegener, Author artist and former Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington, local shredder Matt Cuddihy, Surfrider Foundation volunteer Dave ‘Bease’ Beasley, Surfers for Climate founder Belinda Baggs, environmentalist Pacha Light, indigenous artist Maanyung, Project Pargo’s Dylan Rowe, Dr Javier Leon and SCEC Coordinator Natalie Frost.

The 2022 program also featured a number of sold-out events including a cultural walk with Kabi Kabi elder Beverly Hand and a guided forest walk and tree planting with Barung Landcare.

SCEC coordinator Natalie Frost said, “The 2022 World Environment Day Festival program provided something for everyone with a range of events that demonstrated the collective action needed to protect our planet.”

The program also featured the Noosa EV Expo and Street Fest, showcasing the latest in electric vehicle technology, tree plantings with ECOllaboration, a propagation workshop with Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group and a family fun day at Coolum Civic Centre and Jack Morgan Park with live music and immersive eco-art experiences hosted by Sunshine Coast Council.

“This year’s festival again showcased the work of local groups and organisations who work tirelessly each and every day to protect and care for nature,” Natalie said.

“It was fantastic to work with so many partners to deliver a range of bespoke experiences for the festival. We were blown away with the numbers this year, with many events selling out.”

World Environment Day is celebrated internationally on 5 June and is the biggest international day for the environment.

Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually since 1974, the event has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach. SCEC has hosted World Environment Day Festival since 1979.

World Environmental Day Festival is proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Council’s Grant program.