World Environment Day is observed on June 5 yearly to raise awareness and encourage action for protecting our planet. It was first accepted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, and since then, over 150 countries have participated in various activities to celebrate this day. World Environment Day is essential to raise awareness and encourage action to protect our planet.
As the great global platform for environmental public outreach, World Environment Day has been celebrated by millions worldwide since its establishment by the United Nations Environment Programme during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972.
The UNEP has called for more significant efforts to limit waste and transition to a circular economy, releasing a Beat Plastic Pollution Practical Guide and encouraging social media posts under the hashtag BeatPlasticPollution.
Celebrating Nature and Sustainability
Over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually, with less than 10% recycled and an estimated 19-23 million tonnes ending up in bodies of water yearly. Microplastics also threaten health, with each person consuming an estimated 50,000 plastic particles annually.
The 50th anniversary of World Environment Day will be hosted by Côte D’Ivoire, with the theme of “solutions to plastic pollution”. In previous years, the themes included “Beat Air Pollution” (2019), “Biodiversity” (2020), and “Ecosystem Restoration” (2021). The theme will be announced several months in advance to allow for the preparation and planning of events and activities. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) annually releases a poster for World Environment Day. These posters aim to raise awareness of the chosen theme and encourage people to take action in their communities. The signs are distributed globally, and individuals and organizations are encouraged to display them in their homes, offices, and public spaces.
World Environment Day was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly during the momentous Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972. This pivotal event marked the commencement of global endeavours to tackle pressing environmental concerns. Since it originated in 1974, World Environment Day has evolved into a momentous global affair, fostering heightened ecological consciousness and inspiring action at the individual, community, and international levels.
Promoting Global Environmental Action
World Environment Day holds profound significance as it is a poignant prompt for safeguarding and conserving our environment for present and future generations. The day serves as a clarion call to address various critical issues, including climate change, deforestation, pollution, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. Governments, organizations, and individuals are urged to embrace this occasion and proactively tackle these challenges.
This auspicious day provides a unique opportunity for individuals from all walks of life, spanning governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the general public, to translate their concerns into tangible actions that protect our environment. It empowers people to adopt sustainable practices, such as waste reduction, energy conservation, implementing eco-friendly approaches, and active support for environmental causes. Furthermore, World Environment Day serves as an esteemed global platform for policy discussions, knowledge dissemination, and implementing impactful ecological initiatives.
World Environment Day 2023
World Environment Day carries tremendous importance as it stands as a worldwide stage to elevate consciousness and drive meaningful efforts towards safeguarding our planet. Commemorated each year on June 5, this momentous occasion underscores the significance of preserving our environment and embracing sustainability. By motivating individuals, communities, and governments to engage actively, World Environment Day strives to tackle urgent concerns, including climate change, deforestation, pollution, and the depletion of biodiversity.
For the year 2022, the central theme was “One Earth”. With this, it was intended to make visible the emergency our planet faces regarding climate, evidencing the accelerated global warming and the limited adaptability of people and nature.
On the other hand, habitat loss has impacted more than a million species in danger of extinction.
Together with this, environmental pollution negatively and radically impacts the air, land and water.
This campaign was aimed at raising awareness about such problems, promoting the protection and restoration of our planet through the execution of various actions, which implies the transformation of global societies and economies towards inclusion, justice and respect for nature.
