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.
"Stockholm was without 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."
WED 2005
From the official site:
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.
WED 2006
The topic for WED 2006 was Deserts and Desertification.
The slogan for WED 2006 was "Don't desert drylands".
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.
WED 2007
The topic for World Environment Day for 2007 was "Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?" During International Polar Year, WED 2007 focused on the effects that climate change is having on polar ecosystems and communities, on other ice- and snow-covered areas of the world, and the resulting global impacts.
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".[1]
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.
WED 2008
The host for World Environment Day 2008 will be New Zealand, with the main international celebrations scheduled for Wellington. The slogan for 2008 is "CO2, Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy." New Zealand was one of the first countries to pledge to achieve carbon neutrality, and will also focus on forest management as a tool for reducing greenhouse gases.[2] The Chicago Botanic Garden will serve as the North American host[3]for World Environment Day on June 5, 2008. The daylong celebration will feature 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.
Previous host cities
World Environment Day celebrations have been hosted in the following cities:[4]
* 2007 - Tromsø, Norway
* 2006 - Algiers, Algeria
* 2005 - San Francisco, U.S.
* 2004 - Barcelona, Spain
* 2003 - Beirut, Lebanon
* 2002 - Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
* 2001 - Torino, Italy and Havana, Cuba
* 2000 - Adelaide, Australia
* 1999 - Tokyo, Japan
* 1998 - Moscow, Russian Federation
* 1997 - Seoul, Republic of Korea
* 1996 - Istanbul, Turkey
* 1995 - Pretoria, South Africa
* 1994 - London, United Kingdom
* 1993 - Beijing, People's Republic of China
* 1992 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
* 1991 - Stockolm, Sweden
* 1990 - Mexico City, Mexico
* 1989 - Brussels, Belgium
* 1988 - Bangkok, Thailand
* 1987 - Nairobi, Kenya
Previous themes
* 2008 - Kick The Habit - Towards A Low Carbon Economy
* 2007 - Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?
* 2006 - Deserts and Desertification - Don't Desert Drylands!
* 2005 - Green Cities – Plan for the Planet!
* 2004 - Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive?
* 2003 - Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It!
* 2002 - Give Earth a Chance
* 2001 - Connect with the World Wide Web of Life
* 2000 - The Environment Millennium - Time to Act
* 1999 - Our Earth - Our Future - Just Save It!
* 1998 - For Life on Earth - Save Our Seas
* 1997 - For Life on Earth
* 1996 - Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home
* 1995 - We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment
* 1994 - One Earth One Family
* 1993 - Poverty and the Environment - Breaking the Vicious Circle
* 1992 - Only One Earth, Care and Share
* 1991 - Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership
* 1990 - Children and the Environment
* 1989 - Global Warming; Global Warning
* 1988 - When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last
* 1987 - Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof
* 1986 - A Tree for Peace
* 1985 - Youth: Population and the Environment
* 1984 - Desertification
* 1983 - Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste: Acid Rain and Energy
* 1982 - Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns)
* 1981 - Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains
* 1980 - A New Challenge for the New Decade: Development Without Destruction
* 1979 - Only One Future for Our Children - Development Without Destruction
* 1978 - Development Without Destruction
* 1977 - Ozone Layer Environmental Concern; Lands Loss and Soil Degradation
* 1976 - Water: Vital Resource for Life
* 1975 - Human Settlements
* 1974 - Only one Earth
JAPAN
NETHERLANDS
KOREA
SPAIN
USA-GEORGIA STATE
IRAN
CHINA
FRANCE
HUNGARY
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