The Latest on World Environment Day

In 2022, World Environment Day was hosted by Sweden, in collaboration with the Government of Kenya. The theme for the year was "Only One Earth," emphasizing the concept of "Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature." The theme underscores the planet's vulnerability and the fact that Earth is our only home. It echoes the theme of the inaugural World Environment Day.

2022 is a significant year as it marks the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Stockholm summit that led to the establishment of World Environment Day. The event, dubbed Stockholm+50, is aimed at accelerating action towards a more sustainable society, including recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

• On World Environment Day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a presentation on the 'Save Soil Movement' in New Delhi. The Save Soil Movement is a global initiative that raises awareness about the diminishing health of our soil and motivates people to take action to restore it. The movement aims to unite those concerned about the environment around the cause of soil protection, demonstrating how individual actions can influence policy and public participation.
• India also launched the 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement' on this occasion. The concept of LiFE was proposed by India at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021. It advocates for an environmentally conscious lifestyle that prioritizes "mindful and intentional usage" over "mindless and wasteful consumption." More information about the LiFE Initiative can be found in the linked article.
• The Prime Minister also discussed India's efforts to create 'green jobs'. Green jobs are roles that have a direct positive impact on the environment and contribute to overall environmental welfare. These include jobs in renewable energy, resource conservation, and energy efficiency. They aim to reduce the negative environmental impact of economic sectors while facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy.
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs also launched a 'Clean and Green' campaign on World Environment Day. As part of this campaign, Urban Local Bodies across the country organize awareness programs to eliminate single-use plastic and contribute to environmental improvement.

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World Environment Day – An Overview

World Environment Day, commemorated every year on June 5th, is an initiative of the United Nations for promoting global awareness and action for environmental protection. Here, we present some insightful facts about World Environment Day.

• The UN General Assembly designated World Environment Day in 1972 on the first day of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, following negotiations on the integration of human interactions and the environment.
• The first World Environment Day was celebrated in 1974 with the theme “Only One Earth.”
• It was originally launched as a flagship campaign to raise awareness on emerging environmental issues ranging from marine pollution and global warming to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.
• The purpose of this day is to motivate people around the world to care for the Earth or become agents of change.
• Over the years, World Environment Day has evolved into a global platform for public outreach, with participation from over 143 countries annually.

World Environment Day Anthem

• An Earth Anthem was composed for the World Environment Day event.
• The anthem was composed by Indian diplomat and poet, Abhay K.
• It was recorded in all official languages of the United Nations - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. It was also recorded in Hindi and Nepali.
• The Earth Anthem was launched on World Environment Day 2013.
• The global organization Habitat for Humanity supports it.

Significance of World Environment Day

• World Environment Day serves to highlight the pressing issues our planet faces, such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and increased carbon emissions. It serves as a reminder of the power of grass-root and community-level actions to bring about positive change by making better individual choices and monitoring government and corporate policies that harm our biosphere.
• Since its inception in 1973, the day has been utilized to raise awareness and generate political momentum around growing environmental concerns, such as toxic chemical pollution, desertification, and global warming. It has since evolved into a global action platform, helping to drive changes in consumption habits and national and international environmental policies.

The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to expand the foundation for informed opinions and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises, and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.

Annual Themes and Host Countries

The table below provides brief details about the themes of World Environment Day and the nations that hosted it over the years:

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a digital celebration of World Environment Day in 2020. Recent events such as the bushfires in Australia, USA, and Brazil, and the locust problem in East Africa have caused massive damage to biodiversity, which is why the theme of World Environment Day 2020 focused on time for nature.

World Environment Day 2021 – Pakistan hosted World Environment Day 2021 in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The theme of the day was 'ecosystem restoration' and focused on resetting our relationship with nature. On the same day, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021 – 2030 was launched. The UN Decade aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. It can help end poverty, combat climate change, and prevent mass extinction. The UN Decade is building a strong, broad-based global movement to ramp up restoration and put the world on track for a sustainable future.

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