Rio's Christ Redeemer lit green for Environment Day

The statue of the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro was lit up in green to mark World Environment Day on Friday. Under an initiative between the Christ the Redeemer Sanctuary and the Justice Court of Rio de Janeiro, the statue had it's lighting colours change to green for one hour to call the attention about the importance to preserve the environment.

Brazil, home of the Amazon forest, has strict environmental laws, but enforcement budgets and campaigns were slashed after Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019, when the country suffered the highest rates of deforestation and fires in recent years.

The 5th of June was designated World Environment Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 and celebrated for the first time in 1974.

(Image Credit: AP)