26 April 2012: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has reported on the unveiling of a sculpture of the Chinese Goddess Nüwa, in an effort to raise awareness about protecting the ozone layer and climate change, in Beijing, China.

UNEP Patron for Arts and Environment Yuan Xikun made the 3.9m sculpture of Nüwa, who according to Chinese mythology smelted a seven colour stone to block a hole in the sky to repair the wall of heaven. Nüwa was chosen to draw parallels with modern-day challenges of ozone depletion and climate change. Yuan Xikun used rocks provided by parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, from various regions of the world, and water from two polar regions to create the sculpture. [UNEP Press Release]