World Environment Day

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972.UN document |docid=A-RES-2994(XXVII) |type=Resolution |body=General Assembly |session=-1 |resolution_number=2994 |highlight=rect_105,887_505,1020 |page=1 |accessdate=2008-08-22|date=15 December 1972|title=United Nations Conference on the Human Environment] 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

The theme for the 2005 World Environment Day was "Green Cities – Plan for the Planet!".From the official site:Fact|date=June 2008

: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. Six really important Things I can do as a kid to help the environment

1.Shop locally: Walk to a store near your house, Go to one store for every need instead of driving all around town for 2 different items, if a store like that is to far away then ride a bike or a skateboard etc., By doing these you will already be saving the earth and tons of $.

2.Reduce Recycle Reuse: Reduce the amount of thrash by buying stuff with less packaging. Recycle used plastic, paper, aluminum, and Styrofoam. Reuse old leather, clothing etc.

3. Use less energy you will save Money and the earth: Turn off appliances when you are not using them. It might not make sense to a kid to turn off every light in their house before they leave their house, This is the biggest money saver of all 12, and by turning off all of the lights you will save the earth the sun and us.

4.Eating: If you learn to cook yourself a meal you will be reducing the amount of pollution in the world. Why, because most people in America buy fast food every day and half the people who buy fast food throw the thrash on the ground.

5.Saving trees: Use Sunday comics as wrapping paper6.Put rotten food in the Compost. Also if you don’t have a compost don’t buy one make one.

WED 2006

and the slogan 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

, 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". [ [http://www.wed.npolar.no/world-environment-day-2007/view?set_language=en Norwegian Polar Institute, World Environment Day 2007–information in English] [http://thor.npolar.no:8080/wed and Norwegian] ]

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 was New Zealand, with the main international celebrations scheduled for Wellington. The slogan for 2008 was "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. [ [http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=519&ArticleID=5677&l=en UNEP Press Release, October 1, 2007, "Kick the Habit - World Environment Day 2008 to be Hosted by New Zealand with Focus on Fostering Low-Carbon Economies"] , accessed November 10, 2007] Activities based around the event have been planned in the Wellington region between the 28th of May and the 13th of June.

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. [http://efs.tki.org.nz/ 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 [http://efs.tki.org.nz/users/school_profiles/kakanui_school school profile's page]

The Chicago Botanic Garden served as the North American host [ [http://www.chicagobotanic.org/pr/news/press_releases/knowledge_marketplace.php Chicago Botanic Garden North American Host for World Environment Day 2008] ] for World Environment Day on June 5, 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 reletively new way of making environmental causes popular is through online games. This trend has gained popularity in recent times.An online game by an independant publisher was launched for WED 2008 with this year's theme "CO₂, Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy." the game was called [http://flippixel.com/games/wed/| Carbon chomper] and can be played for free at this link [http://flippixel.com/games/wed/] . Simillar envionmental issue related and conservation themed games can be found at cleanuptheworld.org [http://activities.cleanuptheworld.org/?lang_id=en&gclid=CP2RvePO55UCFQoNewodqilUeg] and gamesforchange.org [http://www.gamesforchange.org/]

Previous host cities

World Environment Day celebrations have been hosted in the following cities: [ [http://www.unep.org/wed/2008/english/Host_Countries/index.asp] , accessed June 6, 2008]

*1987 - Nairobi, Kenya
*1988 - Bangkok, Thailand
*1989 - Brussels, Belgium
*1990 - Mexico City, Mexico
*1991 - Stockolm, Sweden
*1992 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
*1993 - Beijing, People's Republic of China
*1994 - London, United Kingdom
*1995 - Pretoria, South Africa
*1996 - Istanbul, Turkey
*1997 - Seoul, Republic of Korea
*1998 - Moscow, Russian Federation
*1999 - Tokyo, Japan
*2000 - Adelaide, Australia
*2001 - Torino, Italy and Havana, Cuba
*2002 - Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
*2003 - Beirut, Lebanon
*2004 - Barcelona, Spain
*2005 - San Francisco, U.S.
*2006 - Algiers, Algeria
*2007 - Tromsø, Norway
*2008 - Wellington, New Zealand

Previous themes

* 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
* 1988 - When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last
* 1989 - Global Warming; Global Warning
* 1990 - Children and the Environment
* 1991 - Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership
* 1992 - Only One Earth, Care and Share
* 1993 - Poverty and the Environment - Breaking the Vicious Circle
* 1994 - One Earth One Family
* 1995 - We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment
* 1996 - Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home
* 1997 - For Life on Earth
* 1998 - For Life on Earth - Save Our Seas
* 1999 - Our Earth - Our Future - Just Save It!
* 2000 - The Environment Millennium - Time to Act
* 2001 - Connect with the World Wide Web of Life
* 2002 - Give Earth a Chance
* 2003 - Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It!
* 2004 - Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive?
* 2005 - Green Cities – Plan for the Planet!
* 2006 - Deserts and Desertification - Don't Desert Drylands!
* 2007 - Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?
* 2008 - Kick The Habit - Towards A Low Carbon Economy

ee also

*Camden Green Fair
*List of environment topics
*List of environmental dates
*Natural World Museum

References

External links

* [http://www.unep.org United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)]
* [http://www.unep.org/wed UNEP, World Environment Day]
* [http://www.chicagobotanic.org/wed Chicago Botanic Garden, 2008 North American host city site]
* [http://www.unep.org/wed/2007/english/ UNEP, World Environment Day 2007]
* [http://www.unep.org/wed/2006/english/ UNEP, World Environment Day 2006]
* [http://www.unep.org/wed/2005/english/ UNEP, World Environment Day 2005]
* [http://www.wed2005.org/0.0.php World Environment Day 2005 host city site]
* [http://www.unep.org/wed/2007/english/Previous_Themes/index.asp Previous themes of World Environment Day]
* [http://www.mendoftheworld.org WED, UK World Environment Day 2007]
* [http://www.unep.org/themes/climatechange/ UNEP, Climate Change]
* [http://polar.grida.no/ UNEP/GRID Arendal Polar Programme]
* [http://www.unep.org/geo/geo%5Fice/polar.grida.no/ UNEP Global Outlook for Ice and Snow]
* [http://www.unac.org/en/news_events/un_days/international_years.asp News & Events - UN Days, Weeks and Years]