Elsevier Announces Support for World Environment Day 2020

Starting today, over 60 carefully selected journal articles and book chapters, published by Elsevier, will be openly accessible to raise awareness on climate action and biodiversity

NEW YORK, June 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of World Environment Day, Elsevier, a global leader in information analytics specializing in science and health, has launched a free access special issue of curated content focused on biodiversity.

Consisting of journal articles and book chapters supporting the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this free resource is intended to further new research and to raise awareness around this year's theme on biodiversity (#ForNature).

"Our commitment to improving sustainability performance across RELX, and global action to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is reflected in our support for World Environment Day," said Dr. Márcia Balisciano, Global Head of Corporate Responsibility for Elsevier's parent company, RELX.

The public can access the special issue by visiting the RELX SDG Resource Centre. In addition to the biodiversity content collection, Dr. Balisciano interviews Dr. Sam Scheiner, Editor-in-Chief of 'Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Third Edition' as part of a podcast series on the impact of COVID-19 and the SDGs: listen here. 

World Environment Day 2020 showcases how humans are inextricably linked to (and depend upon) nature for our existence and quality of life through a number of virtual offerings including webinars, an interactive nature game, stories and videos, which showcase the interdependence of all life on Earth.

Events from the wildfires in Australia to the COVID-19 outbreak demonstrate how human encroachment on nature erodes biodiversity, creating unprecedented challenges for humankind.

"The pandemic has shown that when we act with urgency and in unison as a global community, we can change the course of events. Science provides the basis for that action," says Suzanne BeDell, Managing Director of Elsevier's Education, Reference, and Continuity group. "Just as each of us are responsible for slowing the spread of COVID-19, we are just as responsible for protecting our fragile planet."

Held annually since 1974, World Environment Day promotes progress on the environmental aspect of the SDGs, for example, the synergy of biodiversity with healthy life below water (SDG 14) and on land (SDG 15).¹