Beijing,
9 August 2008-Top Olympic athlete Yao Ming
is the UN Environment Programme's first-ever
Environmental Champion, UNEP announced today.
Basketball megastar
Yao Ming, who plays for the National Basketball
Association (NBA) and for China's Olympic
team, is one of the most famous athletes
in the world today. He is a national icon
in China and carried the Olympic Flame into
Tiananmen Square on 6 August, as well as
being his country's flag-bearer at the Opening
Ceremony.
"I am delighted
and greatly honored to accept the UN Environment
Programme's offer to become their first
ever 'Environmental Champion'", Yao
Ming said. "In my role as Environmental
Champion, I will work with governments,
the private sector and the public to promote
good and effective management of our environment
so we can preserve the planet for future
generations."
Yao Ming said he will
work with young people across the world
and try to inspire them to plant trees,
use energy efficient light bulbs, harvest
rain water and to become environmental champions
in their own communities.
"I welcome Yao Ming
to our team," said UNEP Executive Director
Achim Steiner, who is in Beijing for the
Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. "As
one of the most high profile athletes in
these Games and with a fan base of millions
across the world, I am sure he can help
us raise public awareness on the environment
and Climate Change issues. I look forward
to working closely with Yao Ming and wish
him and all other athletes the very best
for the Games."
STATEMENT FROM CHINESE
AND NBA BASKETBALL STAR YAO MING ACCEPTING
UNEP'S OFFER TO BECOME THEIR FIRST EVER
ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION:
"I am delighted and greatly honored
to accept the UN Environment Programme's
offer to become their first ever 'Environmental
Champion'.
In my role as 'Environmental
Champion', I will work with governments,
the private sector and the public to promote
good and effective management of our environment
so we can preserve the planet for future
generations.
As a sportsman, I believe
sport has a major role to play in promoting
environmental issues so I will work with
young people across the world and try to
inspire them to plant trees, use energy
efficient light bulbs, harvest rain water
and to become environmental champions in
their own communities.
As the world celebrates
the Beijing Olympic Games, I would also
like to call upon the organizers of all
major sports events in the world to make
sure they use public transport facilities,
build proper waste management systems and
use greener forms of energy.
I sincerely believe
small actions done by many over a long period
of time can really bring about positive
change.
By doing a little now
we can avoid doing a lot later.
Please join me in this global team effort."
Satinder Bindra, UNEP Director of Communications
in Beijing
+ More
Beijing Air Quality
Improves on Day 4 of Olympic Games
Beijing, 12 August 2008
- Beijing's air quality significantly improved
over the last two days, with the sky clearly
visible today after rains on 10 and 11 August
washed away the pollution across the city.
In what could be a sign
that the measures taken by the Beijing authorities
are working, official data measured an Air
Pollution Index (API) of 32 on 12 August.
This is far below the benchmark set by the
Chinese authorities, whereby an Air Pollution
Index of 50 and below is considered excellent.
The news will most likely
come as a welcome development for all the
athletes as well as for Olympic fans across
the world. The United Nations Environment
Programme's Beijing team sees this as an
indication that measures like the ones taken
by the Chinese authorities can make a significant
impact.
Some of the air pollution
reduction measures that have been adopted
by the Chinese authorities for the Olympic
Games include the closing down of heavy
polluting factories around the city and
beyond, a traffic crackdown reducing car
traffic around the city by about half, and
free use of public transport for people
holding tickets to Olympic event or Olympic
accreditation.
