IIFA partners UNEP for World Environment Day

Mumbai: The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) has tied up with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ahead of the 12th IIFA weekend scheduled in Toronto later this month, to create awareness about a greener planet.

World Environment Day (WED), celebrated every year on June 5, is a worldwide celebration of pro-environment activities. Initiated in 1972 by UNEP, it has grown into the largest medium of raising awareness about the environment and the issues that put it at risk. `Friends of IIFA`--Priyanka Chopra and Rahul Bose-- have extended their support towards this cause. Priyanka has pledged to plant one tree for every activity registered in her name, while Rahul, having seen her pledge, has raised the stakes by pledging to plant two trees for every activity registered in his name, a statement issued here today said. Encouraging people all over the world to participate in WED helps to reach out to the public on an individual basis, enabling each person to take responsibility and in turn action against the deterioration of the environment, it said. In 2007, IIFA launched the concept of a `Green Carpet`, replacing the traditional red carpet rolled out at all award shows, as a symbol of its crusade against global warming. This year, the theme for WED is `Forests: Nature at your service`. Covering over a third of the earth`s surface, forests are an integral part of our ecosystem, playing a vital role in sustaining the environment. But deforestation has destroyed a large percentage of the forest area in India leading to potential climate change, global warming, loss of water resources and myriad other environmental problems, it added. PTI