Every year on June 5, World Environment Day is observed to raise awareness and encourage environmental protection initiatives. This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, and the theme will be plastic pollution solutions, with the hashtag and motto #BeatPlasticPollution.
How did it Begin?
At the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972, the United Nations (UN) designated June 5 as International World Environment Day. The goal was to call attention to the numerous environmental issues that we face. They sought to include as many people, organisations, and governments as possible, both local and national. They intended to demonstrate that when people band together to fight for a common cause, positive change is achievable.
It has now expanded to become a global platform for environmental discussions, raising awareness of the repercussions of human activity. Since then, World Environment Day has been observed in over 100 countries, with a different topic chosen each year to draw attention to a specific issue. World Environment Day, which is sponsored by a wide range of organisations, promotes environmental change via education in the hopes of inspiring action in people all around the world. Each country holds gatherings to discuss the environmental issues that are unique to that country.
Over the years, World Environment Day has grown tremendously. This day is celebrated every year by 143 countries. Every year, a new subject is allocated to this day, providing governments, celebrities, communities, NGOs, and corporations with ideas for different events and ways to promote awareness of this important day.
Why do we Celebrate World Environment Day?
The goal of World Environment Day is to promote awareness about environmental issues such as global warming, human overpopulation, marine life, and resource sustainability. This day serves as a reminder of people’s grassroots and community-level power to effect good change by making better choices for themselves and holding the government and companies accountable for policies that harm our biosphere.
Furthermore, each yearly World Environment Day is dedicated to a unique theme. To ensure the campaign’s global success, many slogans are prepared following the topic. People who are aware of the dangers can act more effectively to minimise pollution and safeguard the environment.
World Environment Day Theme in 2023
Every year, on June 5, when the globe celebrates Globe Environment Day with zest and excitement, a special theme is chosen for that year. This motivates people to work on the theme not just on that particular day, but throughout the rest of the year. For example, “Biodiversity” was chosen as the topic for International Environment Day in 2020. Similarly, the topic for 2022 was “Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature.” “Plastic Pollution” has been proposed as the theme for World Environment Day 2023. The workshop, sponsored by Côte d’Ivoire and financed by the Netherlands, will primarily focus on identifying adequate achievable solutions to the problem of plastic pollution that plagues the country.
Plastic waste is created at a higher rate per person in poorer nations with inadequate rubbish collection infrastructure. As a result, the majority of the plastic that pollutes the ocean originates in rivers in developing and middle-income countries. However, wealthy countries, particularly those with poor recycling rates, face similar challenges when it comes to plastic garbage collecting. On this day, people from all around the world come together to raise awareness about plastic pollution and to bring together local governments, industries, communities, and individuals to discover long-term solutions for plastic replacement.
10 Things to Know About World Environment Day
- The first World Environment Day was observed in 1974, with the slogan “Only one Earth.” Since 1974.
- World Environment Day has been observed as an annual event on June 5th.
- It was formed by the United Nations in 1972 during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, led by the United Nations Environment Programme. Since then, several cities throughout the world have organised celebrations.
- The first major conference on environmental issues held under the auspices of the United Nations was held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 5 to 16 June 1972.
- Every year, to honour World Environment Day, a specific subject and tagline that focuses on the most serious environmental concern of the time are chosen.
- The theme will be plastic pollution solutions, with the hashtag and motto #BeatPlasticPollution for this year.
- World Environment Day is observed and celebrated by over 100 countries.
- World Environment Day promotes awareness about the various ways in which our environment is deteriorating and This day urges people and leaders to consider acceptable environmental preservation solutions.
- World Environment Day has its very own anthem. The Anthem is available in all eight official UN languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
- There is no single method to observe World Environment Day. Every country commemorates it differently, such as through parades, environmental outreach programmes, public rallies, concerts, and so on.
