WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: JUNE 5, 2011

World Environment Day promotes ways to improve the earth’s environment, such as conserving forests. ©iStockphoto.com/John Woodworth

What do people do?

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.

Public life

The UN World Environment Day is not a public holiday, so public life is not affected.

Background

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP. It is hosted every year by a different city and commemorated with an international exposition through the week of June 5.

Symbols

The main colors featured in many promotions for this event are natural colors depicting nature, the earth and its natural resources. These colors 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.

World Environment Day Observances