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United Nations World Environment Day is one of the most important events on the international environmental calendar. California and San Francisco are honored to be the first hosts in the United States for World Environment Day.

The environment is an essential part of the California experience. The state's stunning beauty lies in its diverse natural wonders and resources.

I am passionately committed to defending California's environment, and providing real leadership to protect our precious land, air and water.

Here in California, we have rejected the notion that we must choose between protecting the environment, and protecting jobs and economic growth. We know that if our beaches are soiled by oil spills, tourists will not experience the wonders of our magnificent coastline. If we log our forests
irresponsibly, streambeds will be destroyed and our fishing industry will suffer.

But, California is not alone in facing this challenge. If we are going to leave a better planet for generations to come, we must work within a global effort to ensure the economy and the environment never become competing interests.

United Nations World Environment Day will help us focus on these critical issues, but there is an added significance to the event coming to San Francisco.

Sixty years ago, the United Nations was born in the City by the Bay. Representatives from fifty-one countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security founded the United Nations at the 1945 charter convention in San Francisco.

Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the United Nations. Together, members work to maintain international peace, develop friendly relations, cooperate in solving international problems, and promote respect for human rights.

As the nations of the world meet this week in San Francisco, we can add another great principle to the list: working together to build a sustainable future and a healthy respect for our planet.