World Environment Day ('WED') is celebrated every year on 5th June to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
It was the day that United Nations Conference on the Human Environment began. The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was from 5–16 June 1972. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. The first World Environment Day was in 1973. World Environment Day is hosted every year by a different city with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition in the week of 5 June. World Environment Day is in spring in the Northern Hemisphere and fall in the Southern Hemisphere.
"Stockholm was without a doubt the landmark event in the growth of international environmentalism", writes John McCormick in the book Reclaiming Paradise. "It was the first occasion on which the political, social and economic problems of the global environment were discussed at an intergovernmental forum with a view to actually taking corrective action."
World Environment Day is similar to Earth Day.
Recent events
Theme 2012
Green Economy: Does it include you?
Brazil Named Global Host of World Environment Day 2012
Nairobi (Kenya), 22 February 2012 - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today announced that Brazil, with one of the fastest growing economies in the world, will host World Environment Day 2012 (WED) on 5 June. This year's theme 'Green Economy: invites everyone to both assess where the Green Economy fits in their daily lives and evaluate whether development through these pathways towards a Green Economy can deliver the kinds of social, economic and environmental outcomes needed in a world of seven billion people, climbing to over nine billion in 2050. Brazil had previously hosted WED in 1992, on the eve of the first Earth Summit, when world leaders, government officials and international organizations met to refocus, recalibrate and deliver a route map towards sustainable development.
"In celebrating WED in Brazil in 2012, we are returning to the roots of contemporary sustainable development in order to forge a new path that reflects the realities but also the opportunities of a new century," said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director.
"Three weeks after WED, Brazil will host Rio+20 where world leaders and nations will gather in order to design a future that takes sustainable development from theory and patchy success to the locomotive of transformational change-a pathway that can grow economies and generate decent jobs without pushing the globe past planetary boundaries," he added.
With a country of 200 million people, Brazil is the fifth most populous nation in the world and has the fifth largest land mass on the planet with 8.5 million square kilometers
In recent years Brazil has taken enormous steps to tackle issues such as deforestation in the Amazon through enforcement efforts and monitoring initiatives by the Brazilian government.
Indeed by some estimates, Brazil recently realized one of the biggest greenhouse gas emission reductions in the world as a result of its achievements in reducing deforestation rates.
According to UNEP's Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication, the country is also at the forefront of building an economy that includes recycling and renewable energy and the generation of green jobs.
Brazil's recycling industry generates returns of US$2 billion a year while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 10 million tonnes. Recycling in all its forms already employs 12 million people in three countries alone: Brazil, China and the United States.
Brazil is also the world leader in sustainable ethanol production for fueling vehicles and is expanding into other renewable areas such as wind power and solar heating systems.
The recent construction of 500,000 new homes in Brazil with solar heating systems generated 30,000 new jobs. "We are very pleased to host this global celebration for the environment. The World Environment Day will be a great opportunity in Brazil to showcase the environmental aspects of sustainable development in the warm up to the Rio+20 conference," said Brazil's Minister of Environment, Izabella Teixeira, who this week is attending UNEP's Governing Council meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
"The history of Brazil, the complexion of its diverse and dynamic economy with its natural and nature-based resources allied to its industries and its current and future role in international relations, offer a lens and a unique perspective through which a broad-based, transformational outcome is possible at Rio+20," said Mr Steiner. "Brazil's b commitment to social and equity issues nationally and regionally and its responsibilities towards developing and least developed economies can also guide and shape the debates," he added. "The contemporary direction of sustainable development was born in Brazil - in many ways its future health, maturity and ability to respond to the challenges and opportunities of a markedly different world will be forged in Brazil in four months' time," said Mr Steiner. The WED celebrations in Brazil on 5 June are part of thousands of events taking place around the globe. WED 2012 will emphasize how individual actions can have an exponential impact, with a variety of activities ranging from a marathon, to community clean-ups, car-free days, green blogging competitions, exhibits, green petitions, nationwide green campaigns and much more.
Kia Motors Corporation, the oldest and second largest automobile manufacturer in the Republic of Korea, today also donated five vehicles to UNEP as part of its response to the 2012's WED theme 'Green Economy: Does it include you?'
The cars include Kia Rios and one 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid which were chosen for their fuel efficiency.
The official signing ceremony took place at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and marked Kia's continued commitment to environmental sustainability.
"Through participation in environmental partnerships such as with UNEP we aim to support steadfast efforts to solve global environmental challenges," said Soon-Nam Lee, Director of Overseas Marketing, Kia Motors Corporation. "This year's 'Green Economy' theme bly resonates with our core environmental management objectives of achieving low carbon emissions, resource efficiency and placing the environment at the forefront of all our business activities."
Mr Steiner said: "I would like to thank KIA for their support-together we will shortly be launching a competition where organizations and groups working at the grassroots of the Green Economy in all the regions of the world can stand to win one of the vehicles in order to further their important work."
Theme 2011
Forests-Nature At Your Service
Theme 2010
'Many Species. One Planet. One Future', was the theme of 2010.It celebrated the diversity of life on Earth as part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity. This year's global host, Rwanda – a country of exceptional biodiversity that has made huge strides on environmental protection – lead the celebrations with three days of keynote events.
Thousands of activities were organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more.
Each continent (except Antarctica) had a "regional host city", the U.N. chose Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the host for all North. [2]
Theme 2009
World Environment Day logo for 2009. Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change.
WED 2009's host was Mexico which reflected the growing role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the carbon markets.
Mexico is also a leading partner in UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign. The country, with the support of its President and people, has spearheaded the pledging and planting of some 25 per cent of the trees under the campaign. Accounting for around 1.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country is demonstrating its commitment to climate change on several fronts.
Mexican President Felipe Calderón stated that the WED celebration will "further underline Mexico's determination to manage natural resources and deal with the most demanding challenge of the 21st century – climate change."
Pittsburgh, was selected as the North American host city by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to join World Environment Day-2010.The theme of this year was "Many Species: One Planet, One Future." Highlighting theme "Biodiversity- Ecosystem Management and the Green Economy".
Theme 2008
World Environment Day logo for 2008.
Volunteers appeared around the Auckland region in New Zealand on World Environment Day 2008. These volunteers were located primarily at major transport hubs (such as train stations)and advertised World Environment Day, as well as handing out eco-friendly products such as eco-friendly light-bulbs and eco-friendly shopping bags. Volunteers at public transport hubs also handed out stickers with the slogan I'm reducing my carbon footprint! World Environment Day, Thursday 5 June 2008 as well as providing free entertainment as an act of gratitude to public transport users.
A website has been set up by the ministry of education to support in-school initiatives. efs.tki.org.nz. It encourages school pupils to make short term and longer term pledges to minimize emissions. The list of pledges can be found on a typical school profile's page
The Chicago Botanic Garden served as the North American host for World Environment Day on 5 June 2008. The daylong celebration featured activities for everyone in the family along with presentations by local and national organizations in the areas of food, shelter, energy, education, transportation, and public awareness.
A relatively new way of making environmental causes popular is through online games.
CarbonChomper cover screenshot.
An online game by an independent publisher was launched for WED 2008 with this year's theme "CO2, Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy." the game was called Carbon chomper and can be played for free at this link [3]. Similar envionmental issue related and conservation themed games can be found at cleanuptheworld.org [4] and gamesforchange.org [5]
2007
World Environment Day logo for 2007.
The main international celebrations of the WED 2007 were held in the city of Tromsø, Norway, a city north of the Arctic Circle self-styled as "The Gateway to the Arctic".
The UNEP statement on WED 2007 states:
The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. World Environment Day is a people's event with colourful activities such as street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essays and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns.
2006
World Environment Day logo for 2006.
The slogan emphasised the importance of protecting drylands, which cover more than 40% of the planet's surface. This ecosystem is home to one-third of the world's people who are more vulnerable members of society. The main international celebrations of the World Environment Day 2006 were held in Algeria.
2005
Standard WED banners hung in San Francisco in May 2005.
- Today, the majority of the world's people live in cities. Recognizing this historic moment, Mayor Gavin Newsom has invited Mayors from around the globe to San Francisco for United Nations World Environment Day to forge a collective path towards a sustainable urban future.
- Mayors are emerging as the most powerful and flexible agents of change. They are able to respond quickly to environmental issues and are uniquely accountable to their citizens. Their enormous purchasing power is shaping markets and making environmental sustainability a manufacturing consideration. They are tackling the globe's most challenging environmental issues and their visionary solutions provide inspiration and serve as models to all sectors of society.
Previous events
World Environment Day celebrations have been hosted in the following cities:| Year | Theme | Host city |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Only one Earth | |
| 1975 | Human Settlements | |
| 1976 | Water: Vital Resource for Life | |
| 1977 | Ozone Layer Environmental Concern; Lands Loss and Soil Degradation | |
| 1978 | Development Without Destruction | |
| 1979 | Only One Future for Our Children – Development Without Destruction | |
| 1980 | A New Challenge for the New Decade: Development Without Destruction | |
| 1981 | Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains | |
| 1982 | Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns) | |
| 1983 | Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste: Acid Rain and Energy | |
| 1984 | Desertification | |
| 1985 | Youth: Population and the Environment | |
| 1986 | A Tree for Peace | |
| 1987 | Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof | Nairobi, Kenya |
| 1988 | When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last | Bangkok, Thailand |
| 1989 | Global Warming; Global Warning | Brussels, Belgium |
| 1990 | Children and the Environment | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 1991 | Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 1992 | Only One Earth, Care and Share | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| 1993 | Poverty and the Environment – Breaking the Vicious Circle | Beijing, People's Republic of China |
| 1994 | One Earth One Family | London, United Kingdom |
| 1995 | We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment | Pretoria, South Africa |
| 1996 | Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home | Istanbul, Turkey |
| 1997 | For Life on Earth | Seoul, Republic of Korea |
| 1998 | For Life on Earth – Save Our Seas | Moscow, Russian Federation |
| 1999 | Our Earth – Our Future – Just Save It! | Tokyo, Japan |
| 2000 | The Environment Millennium – Time to Act | Adelaide, Australia |
| 2001 | Connect with the World Wide Web of Life | Torino, Italy and Havana, Cuba |
| 2002 | Give Earth a Chance | Shenzhen, People's Republic of China |
| 2003 | Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It! | Beirut, Lebanon |
| 2004 | Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive? | Barcelona, Spain |
| 2005 | Green Cities – Plan for the Planet! | San Francisco, United States |
| 2006 | Deserts and Desertification – Don't Desert Drylands! | Algiers, Algeria |
| 2007 | Melting Ice – a Hot Topic? | Tromsø, Norway |
| 2008 | Kick The Habit – Towards A Low Carbon Economy | Wellington, New Zealand |
| 2009 | Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 2010 | Many Species. One Planet. One Future | Kigali, Rwanda |
| 2011 | Forests: Nature at your Service | New Delhi, India |
| 2012 | Green Economy: Does it include you? | Brazil |
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