World Environment Day

Held on : 5th June

All around the World, Human Activities are creating a crisis for environment. Pollution, wastage of water, mining, over-fishing, poaching, deforestation etc. have created a situation where immediate steps are needed to be taken to slow and prevent Environmental Degradation. To achieve this purpose, World Environment Day (WED) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. WED is hosted every year by a different city and commemorated with an international exposition through the week of June 5. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), also created in 1972, uses WED to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and public action.

World Environment Day is celebrated in many ways in countries such as Kenya, New Zealand, Poland, Spain and the United States. Activities include street rallies and parades, as well as concerts, tree planting, and clean-up campaigns. In many countries, this annual event is used to enhance political attention and action towards improving the environment. This observance also provides an opportunity to sign or ratify international environmental conventions.

Themes - Every year there is a different Theme representing a crucial aspect of the Environment. The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 (Wellington, New Zealand) was Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy, in 2007 (Tromsø, Norway), it was Melting Ice – a Hot Topic? and in 2006 (Algiers, Algeria), it was Don't Desert Drylands!

Symbols - The main colours featured in many promotions for this event are natural colours depicting nature, the earth and its natural resources. These colours are often softer shades of green, brown and blue. Images of natural the earth's features, such as snowy mountains, clean beaches, unpolluted rivers, and photos of natural flora and fauna, including fern leaves, are used to promote campaigns supporting the day.

Holiday Status - It is not a Holiday.