Today, 26 November 2024, we celebrate World Olive Day. This date was proclaimed at the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 2019 to promote the protection of this tree and the values it embodies, in order to value the social, cultural, economic and environmental significance it brings to humanity.
The need to conserve and cultivate the olive grove is multiplying as the world faces and adapts to climate change. Today, the olive grove faces a great challenge in the face of climate change, as it is a key element in reversing or reducing its effects in the quest to enhance sustainability in olive groves. In this sense, olive groves provide an environmental benefit to mankind, offering a positive carbon balance, since they absorb more Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere than it is emitted during the olive oil production process.
Furthermore, it is important to reinforce the protection of cultural and natural heritage, including its landscapes, which are part of UNESCO’s mission and vision. Indeed, the celebration of World Olive Day reinforces the commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly development.
For its part, the International Olive Council, which since its foundation in 1959 has been leading efforts to harmonise standards, guarantee the quality of olive products and promote international trade, also stresses that as a simple but solemn tribute to the olive tree, this declaration calls on governments and institutions around the world to choose the olive tree as the protector of our planet. It also highlights the role of olive growing in sustainable economic and social development, but also its role as a key weapon in the fight against climate change. The message is clear: ‘choose the olive tree to protect our planet and our health’.
