World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on the 5th of June every year, and is the United Nation’s principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment. First held in 1974, it has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution, human overpopulation, and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime. WED has grown to become a global platform for public outreach, with participation from over 143 countries annually. Each year, WED has a new theme that major corporations, NGOs, communities, governments and celebrities worldwide adopt to advocate environmental causes.

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History

World Environment Day [WED] was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 on the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, resulting from discussions on the integration of human interactions and the environment. Two years later, in 1974 the first WED was held with the theme “Only One Earth”. Even though WED celebration have been held annually since 1974, in 1987 the idea for rotating the center of these activities through selecting different host countries began.

Annual themes and major initiatives and accomplishments

For almost five decades, World Environment Day has been raising awareness, supporting action, and driving change. Here is a timeline of key accomplishments in WEDs’ history:

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World Environment Day celebrations have been (and will be) hosted in the following cities:

2019: Air Pollution, China

The theme for 2019 is “Beat Air Pollution”. The host nation is China.

2018: Beat Plastic Pollution, New Delhi, India

The theme for 2018 is “Beat Plastic Pollution”. The host nation was India. By choosing this Theme, it is aimed that people may strive to change their everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution. People should be free from the over-reliance on single-use or disposables, as they have severe environmental consequences. We should liberate our natural places, our wildlife – and our own health from plastics. Indian government pledged to eliminate all single use of plastic in India by 2022.

2017: Connecting People to Nature – in the city and on the land, from the poles to the equator Ottawa, Canada

The theme for 2017 was ‘Connecting People to Nature – in the city and on the land, from the poles to the equator’. The host nation was Canada.

2016: Zero Tolerance for the Illegal Wildlife trade, Luanda, Angola

The 2016 WED was organised under the theme “Go wild for life”. This edition of the WED aims to reduce and prevent the illegal trade in wildlife. Angola was chosen as the host country of the 2016 WED during the COP21 in Paris.

2015: Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care. Rome, Italy

The Slogan of the 2015 edition of the World Environment Day is “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”. The slogan was picked through a voting process on social media. In Saudi Arabia, 15 women recycled 2000 plastic bags to crochet a mural in support of the WED 2015. In India, Narendra Modi planted a Kadamb sapling to celebrate the World Environment Day and raise awareness for Environment. Italy is the host country of the 43rd edition of the WED. The celebrations took place as part of Milan Expoaround the theme: Feeding the Planet – Energy for Life.

2014: Raise your voice, not the sea level, Bridgetown, Barbados

The Theme of the 2014 WED is : International Year of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS). By choosing this Theme the UN General Assembly aimed to highlight the development Challenges and successes of the SIDS. In 2014, the World Environment Day focused on global warming and its impact on ocean levels. The Slogan of the WED 2014 is “Raise your voice not the sea level”, as Barbados hosted the global celebrations of the 42nd edition of the World Environment Day. The UN Environment Programme named actor Ian Somerhalder as the official Goodwill ambassador of the WED 2014.

2013: Think.Eat.Save. Reduce Your Foodprint, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

The 2013 theme for World Environment Day was Think.Eat.Save.

The campaign addressed the huge annual wastage and losses in food, which, if conserved, would release a large quantity of food as well as reduce the overall carbon footprint. The campaign aimed to bring about awareness in countries with lifestyles resulting in food wastage. It also aimed to empower people to make informed choices about the food they eat so as to reduce the overall ecological impact due to the worldwide production of food. The host country for the year’s celebrations was Mongolia.

2012: Green Economy: Does it include you? Brasilia, Brazil

The theme for the 2012 World Environment Day was Green Economy.

The theme aimed to invite people to examine their activities and lifestyle and see how the concept of a “Green Economy” fits into it. The host country for the year’s celebrations was Brazil.

2011: Forests: Nature at your Service, New Delhi, India

The theme for 2011 was Forests-Nature At Your Service. Thousands of activities were organised worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more. That year’s global host, India, is a country of wide biodiversity.

2010: Many Species. One Planet. One Future, Rangpur, Bangladesh

‘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. It was hosted in Rwanda. Thousands of activities were organised 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.

2009: Your Planet Needs You – Unite to Combat Climate Change, Mexico City, Mexico

The theme for WED 2009 was ‘Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change’, and Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song’ was declared ‘World Environment Day Song’. It was hosted in Mexico.

2008: Kick The Habit – Towards A Low Carbon Economy, Wellington, New Zealand

The host for WED 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.

The Chicago Botanic Garden served as the North American host for World Environment Day on 5 June 2008.

2007: Melting Ice – a Hot Topic? London, England

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.

2006: Deserts and Desertification – Don’t Desert Drylands! Algiers, Algeria

The topic for WED 2006 was Deserts and Desertification and the slogan was “Don’t desert drylands”.

The slogan emphasised the importance of protecting drylands. The main international celebrations of the World Environment Day 2006 were held in Algeria.

2005: Green Cities – Plan for the Planet! San Francisco, United States

The theme for the 2005 World Environment Day was “Green Cities” and the slogan was “Plan for the Planet!”.

2004: Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive? Barcelona, Spain

2003: Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It! Beirut, Lebanon

The main celebrations take place in Beirut, Lebanon, a first for the Arab world. The theme of “Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It!” is chosen in support of the International Year of Fresh Water.

Nations accounting for nearly one third of the world’s population take turns hosting World Environment Day, including China (twice), Russia, Japan and Turkey. The campaign goes digital.

2002: Give Earth a Chance, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China

2001: Connect with the World Wide Web of Life Torino, Italy and Havana, Cuba

Secretary-General Kofi Annan chooses World Environment Day to launch the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, an unprecedented effort to map the health of the planet. Reflecting the theme “Connect with the World Wide Web of Life,” the international festivities take place across several cities: Torino, Italy and Havana, Cuba as well as in Hue, Vietnam and Nairobi, Kenya.
2000: The Environment Millennium – Time to Act Adelaide, Australia

UN Environment launches a fully developed World Environment Day website, making it easy for people around the world to register their activities and build a sense of global community. The main events take place in Adelaide, Australia under the theme “The Environment Millennium – Time to Act,” ahead of the international summit that sets out the Millennium Development Goals.
1999: Our Earth – Our Future – Just Save It! Tokyo, Japan
1998: For Life on Earth – Save Our Seas Moscow, Russian Federation

World Environment Day highlights threats to our marine ecosystems for the first time, using the theme of “For Life on Earth – Save our Seas” in support of the International Year of the Ocean. Moscow, Russia, hosts the celebrations.
1997: For Life on Earth Seoul, Republic of Korea
A New Challenge for the New Decade: Development Without Destruction Sylhet, Bangladesh
1996: Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home Istanbul, Turkey

Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa receives a posthumous Global 500 award during World Environment Day celebrations in Ankara, Turkey. With the award, World Environment Day throws a spotlight on the link between human and environmental rights.
1995: We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment Pretoria, South Africa

South Africa plays host a year after Nelson Mandela became president. Mandela attends the celebrations, drawing huge international attention to environmental themes. A year earlier, the anti-apartheid leader used the day to declare Cape Town’s Table Mountain a “gift to the Earth” and proof of South Africa’s commitment to protect biodiversity.
1994: One Earth One Family London, United Kingdom
1993: Poverty and the Environment – Breaking the Vicious Circle Beijing, People’s Republic of China

China hosts World Environment Day in Beijing, raising environmental awareness in the world’s most populous nation, under the theme “Poverty and the Environment – Breaking the Vicious Circle.” The event returns to China in 2002, hosted by the city of Shenzhen.
1992: Only One Earth, Care and Share Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

World Environment Day is held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the UN Conference on Environment and Development, better known as the Earth Summit. Nations negotiate landmark treaties on climate change, desertification and biodiversity, and set the course for contemporary sustainable development.
1991: Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership Stockholm, Sweden
1990: Children and the Environment Mexico City, Mexico
1989: Global Warming; Global Warning Brussels, Belgium

A year after the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, celebrations hosted in Brussels, Belgium echo mounting concern about global warming. The theme will be revisited more than any other in subsequent World Environment Day campaigns.
1988: When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last Bangkok, Thailand

The main celebrations begin to rotate around the globe, starting in Bangkok, Thailand. The theme of “When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last” comes a year after the Brundtland Report laid out its influential blueprint for sustainability.
1987: Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof Nairobi, Kenya

UN Environment marks the day at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, by presenting the first of its Global 500 awards to environmental champions including Wangari Maathai. The awards become a mainstay of World Environment Day celebrations through 2003.
1986: A Tree for Peace Ontario, Canada

The theme “A Tree for Peace” coincides with the International Year of Peace. Reflecting World Environment Day’s growing profile, political and religious leaders including French President François Mitterrand, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni take part in a global ceremony by planting a tree and stressing the links between conflict and environmental destruction.
1985: Youth: Population and the Environment Islamabad, Pakistan
1984: Desertification Rajshahi, Bangladesh
1983: Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste: Acid Rain and Energy Sylhet, Bangladesh
1982: Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns) Dhaka, Bangladesh
1981: Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains Sylhet, Bangladesh

The campaign draws attention to toxic chemicals in groundwater and food chains. The next year, UN Environment’s Governing Council adopts the Montevideo Programme, setting priorities for global lawmaking that lead to major international agreements restricting or eliminating an array of hazardous chemicals and pollutants.
1979: Only One Future for Our Children – Development Without Destruction Sylhet, Bangladesh

The theme “Only One Future for Our Children” coincides with the International Year of the Child. For the first time, World Environment Day echoes a UN-designated international year, a trend that grows as environmental problems rise up on the global agenda.
1978: Development Without Destruction Sylhet, Bangladesh
1977: Ozone Layer Environmental Concern; Lands Loss and Soil Degradation Sylhet, Bangladesh

UN Environment uses the day to highlight concern about the ozone layer, setting a trend for World Environment Day to generate vital early momentum on critical environmental issues. It takes another ten years to seal the landmark Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
1976: Water: Vital Resource for Life Ontario, Canada
1975: Human Settlements Dhaka, Bangladesh
1974: Only one Earth during Expo ’74 Spokane, United States

World Environment Day is celebrated for the first time with the slogan “Only One Earth.”

1972: The UN General Assembly designates 5 June as World Environment Day, marking the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, leads to the creation of UN Environment.

“It is time to act decisively. My message to governments is clear: tax pollution; end fossil fuel subsidies; and stop building new coal plants. We need a green economy not a grey economy.” — Secretary-General, António Guterres

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