Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/293799
The United Nations Environment Programme's Regional Office for North America (UNEP RONA) has selected Sarasota County as the official North American host community for World Environment Day (WED) 2014, the county has announced. Established in 1972 and celebrated every year in more than 100 countries on June 5, WED is one of the UN's primary means of stimulating environmental awareness and action world wide, a news release explains. "According to UNEP RONA, Sarasota County was selected because of its positive and proactive environmental track record," the release says. The WED theme is Small Island Developing States, the release points out, and Sarasota County, as a coastal commu nity, faces environmental challenges similar to those of small island nations. "We are impressed by the number of inno vative environmental protection initiatives undertaken by Sarasota County," said UNEP RONA Acting Director Elliot Harris in the release. "The 21st century has been a game changer for the county, and the leadership shown on the sustainability front by its cit izens has been exemplary," he added in the release. The WED program and events in Sarasota County will be shared on the Sarasota County website at scgov.net/WED, the release notes. "Sarasota County is a 'lighthouse' community, and we look forward to this opportunity to serve as a guiding light for other coastal com munities searching for environmental best practices," said Sarasota County Commission Chairman Charles D. Hines in the release. "Plus, we embrace this worldwide platform as a chance to learn from other communities facing similar environmental concerns." One of the county's programs, the Green Business Partnership (GBP), provides tech nical assistance, certification and marketing support to local businesses and nonprofits of all sizes in their efforts to improve the sustain ability of their operations, the release points out. "To date, about 200 area businesses have achieved the GBP certification, reducing energy, water use and waste generation from the private sector," it says. Additionally, Sarasota County was the first county in the United States to adopt the American Institute of Architects 2030 Challenge to design and construct new buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030, the release explains. Sarasota County also has the third high est number of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects per capita in Florida. "In 2005, Sarasota County was the first county in Florida to make a com mitment that all new construction and major renovations would meet green buildings stan dards," the release says. COUNTY TO BE HOST COMMUNITY FOR WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY Sarasota News Leader April 11, 2014 Page 78