A GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNING COUNCIL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTITIONERS OF NIGERIA (IEPN) PROF. LAWRENCE IKECHUKWU EZEMONYE, PhD, FAS, FNES, FIEPN AT THE WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL DAY 2026 COMMEMORATION ON FRIDAY, 05 JUNE 2026
Fellow practitioners, esteemed colleagues, partners, and all who work daily at the frontier of environmental stewardship, on this World Environment Day, we do not merely mark a date on the calendar — we take stock of the world our practice is called to protect. This year’s theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” speaks directly to all of us who have chosen not to be mere observers, but key actors; scientists, planners, sociologists, engineers, lawyers, advocates, field officers, and decision-makers who seek to translate environmental commitment into tangible, measurable change.
The evidence before us is unambiguous. We are no longer speaking of projections. We are living them, and evidences abound. Climate Change is no longer a distant environmental phenomenon. It is real. It is the defining health crisis of the 21st century and the single greatest health threat of all times, featuring significantly in SDG-3, SDG-2, SDG-6 and SDG-13.
Rising Temperatures 1.5°C threshold crossed; consecutive record heat years globally | Water Stress Droughts intensifying across Africa, Asia & the Americas | Extreme Weather Floods, wildfires & storms at unprecedented frequency |
Biodiversity Loss Ecosystems collapsing faster than natural recovery rates | Food & Livelihoods Crop failures threatening food security for millions | Sea Level Rise Coastal communities facing displacement & inundation |
As key stakeholders, we understand that knowing the science is not enough. What matters is what we do with that knowledge, in the field, in the boardroom, in the courtroom, in our communities. Practitioners should be the bridge between evidence and action, between policy intent and palpable reality. That bridge is more critical to sustain.
The good news is that practitioners are already leading transformative change. Nature-based solutions are being deployed at scale. Renewable energy transitions are accelerating. Climate-smart agriculture is restoring both yields and soils. These are present-tense realities that our members are building every day. World Environment Day 2026, hosted by Azerbaijan and anchored by UNEP’s #NowForClimate campaign, calls us to build faster, wider, and with greater solidarity.
Our Charge – To Every Stakeholder – To Save “Mother Earth”
To Practitioners
Mainstream climate risk into every assessment, plan, and decision you author. Deploy nature-based solutions as core professional tools, not optional enhancements. Document your outcomes: your field evidence is the science that shapes tomorrow’s standards.
To Policy Makers
Embed climate adaptation and mitigation into all sectoral legislation: land use, infrastructure, agriculture, and water. Align public investment with the true cost of inaction. Enforce: policy without compliance is aspiration without impact.
To the Private Sector
Move beyond voluntary pledges to verified, time-bound decarbonization commitments. Integrate biodiversity and climate risk into financial reporting and supply chain decisions. Commission environmental practitioners as strategic partners, not peripheral advisors.
To Civil Society & Communities
Claim your seat at every planning table, environmental tribunal, and climate negotiation. Your lived experience of heat, floods, and ecological loss is evidence that formal systems must not ignore. Hold institutions to account, and trust practitioners committed to co-creating solutions with you.
To Academia & Research Institutions
Close the gap between discovery and deployment — communicate findings in practitioner-ready formats and build implementing partnerships into every programme. Prioritize transdisciplinary, applied research, and ensure voices from the Global South shape the global agenda.
On this year’s World Environment Day, the Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria renews its commitment to be the professional front, where rigorous practice, bold advocacy, accountability and genuine commitment converge. We are inspired by the resilience of the natural world and the resolve of every practitioner who shows up, day after day, to defend it.
The planet has sent its signal “Mother Earth” is weeping. Let ours be unmistakable. #NowForClimate.
Prof. Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, PhD, FAS, FNES, FIEPN
President & Chairman of Governing Council, IEPN
OUR MISSION
To foster a community of environmental practitioners dedicated to integrity, excellence, advocacy, education and transdisciplinary collaboration for a healthy environment.
Vision
To lead environmental stewardship in Nigeria, driving policy innovation, practitioner excellence, and sustainable development for a resilient environment.
Core Values
SPICIT
- Sustainability
- Professional Integrity
- Inclusion
- Collaboration
- Innovation
- Transparency
Get Involved
Ready to make a difference? Discover how you can get involved with IEPN and contribute to our mission. Whether through volunteering, participating in events, or becoming a member, there are countless ways to join us in our efforts to build a more sustainable future