In this article, We will discuss about theWorld Environment Day. World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June and is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment
World Environment Day
“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.”
– Thomas Fuller, Historian
True. Isn’t it? We don’t realize the value of something unless it is gone. The same is happening with our environment and our planet. We don’t have any other planet to go to, once we have destroyed the one we are living on. However, the good news is that we have all the opportunities to be at peace with nature by doing our bit. How? Celebrate the World Environment Day that is around the corner and you will know.
We know the need of the hour is to plant more trees, increase greenery, eat healthy, clean rivers, beaches, coasts, etc. The time needs you to seize the moment and make the most of it.
So, pause.
Rethink. Refurbish. Renew.
For this purpose, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) organizes World Environment Day events every year, encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environmental protection.
World Environment Day Date 2021
Environment day is celebrated on 5th June every year in over 100 countries.
History of World Environment Day
The UN General Assembly has the credit when it comes to environment day background. It was in 1972 when the assembly designated June 5 as World Environment Day (WED).
Looking back, it is evident that Environment Day was first celebrated in 1974. “Only One Earth” was the slogan of World Environment Day then.
In 1987, it was declared that WED celebrations will be held in different countries. Moreover, consumption patterns along within national and international environmental policies are modified with WED.
Why is Environment Day Celebrated?
World Environment Day is celebrated so that we are reminded about how precious our environment is.
It has been decades when we have been exploiting our ecosystems to the extent of the destruction. A forest cover, equivalent to a football pitch in size is destroyed every three seconds! Half of our wetlands are damaged over the last century. We have already lost almost 50% of our coral reefs. And this is not it. By 2050, up to 90% of coral reefs could be lost even if global warming continues to amplify restrictedly at 1.5°C!
Alarming! Isn’t it?
So, it is celebrated with the approach to engage governments, businesses, and citizens to attend to critical environmental issues.
Significance of World Environment Day
The environment day is observed to make people aware of what they have to do to protect the environment. It has become an occasion to raise environment-related awareness for issues such as global warming, air pollution, human overpopulation, food security, wildlife protection, sea-level increase, sustainable consumption, plastic pollution, marine pollution, and even more. As it is now spread all over the world, WED is not just an occasion anymore but also a global platform. Here, countries can connect and reach out to everyone to lend a hand in the best interest of the environment.
What is the Difference between Earth Day and Environment Day?
Image Source
Environment Day is not to be confused with Earth Day. The latter is celebrated on 22nd April every year. And preceding this day, Earth Hour is celebrated every March on the last Saturday. On this day people across the continents switch off lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m to show their commitment towards Earth.
On the other hand, Environment Day is meant to show support and indulge in activities to protect the environment.
What should we do on Environment Day?
Image Source
WED is celebrated in various ways all over the world. Celebrations include cleaning beaches, online activities, planting trees, and organizing meetings to increase awareness. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) every year chooses an issue to address.
It encourages us to get active. And we can do it by joining generation restoration.
Environment Day Theme 2021
Ecosystem Restoration is the theme of World Environment Day 2021. Ecosystem restoration means checking, halting, and reversing the damage done to the ecosystem and going from exploiting nature to healing it. So, the focus will be on nurturing a healthy relationship with nature.
The day will witness the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030. This will be backed by a global mission to restore billions of hectares, ranging from forests to farmlands, from the mountain tops to the depth of the sea.
The need of the hour is to stop the breaking up biodiversity and this is possible only with healthy ecosystems. This will further augment livelihood opportunities and prevent climate changes.
Join #GenerationRestoration
By restoring ecosystems, you contribute to their biodiversity protection. Here, you use ecosystems on land and in the oceans to strengthen their natural resources and processes. Restoration also prevents degradation or at least reducing it to a significant point. Thereby, helping the ecosystems to offer advantages to nature.
WED invites you to join #GenerationRestoration. You can join the movement in three ways as per the Ecosystem Restoration Playbook and make a difference by taking action, making wise choices, and raising your voice for restoration.
Which country will Host World Environment Day 2021?
World Environment Day is hosted by a different country every year and hosts celebrations. Pakistan will host World Environment Day 2021. The country’s government has plans to restore and expand its forests over five years through a ‘10 Billion Tree Tsunami‘ spread. It includes planting trees in urban areas and restoring mangroves and forests.
Pakistan will be surpassing the Bonn Challenge with the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami – a global effort by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Under the challenge, countries are pledging to restore 350, 000 hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land by 2030.
World Environment Day Activities
As this year, WED is falling on a weekend; you can easily try these easy DIY activities at home. You can also include your kids and contribute your bit to the environment. This way, they will also learn about world issues, appreciate nature, and carefully use natural resources. Here are some eco-friendly activities that you must try this Environment Day –
- A shoe-box house for birds
- A compost bin
- Make paper bags
- Teach your child about the solid waste management
- Make a tetra-pack bird feeder
- Prepare a cardboard box book holder
- Organize an arts and crafts exhibition, focusing on sustainability
- Collect recyclable items to reduce waste
- Raise money for an eco charity
World Environment Day Virtual Activities
Explore the WED website. It is aiming to create the world’s largest nature album. Add your bit by uploading the photo or video of your favorite nature-kissed spot to the album. For instance, your favorite beach, lake, fields, or mountains can be some of the spots.
Promote WED on social media sites that include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Share what’s happening on this day in your area, give ideas on living sustainably, or add environmental facts. Ensure the message reaches your friends and acquaintances that it is Environment Day and what they can do for it.
World Environment Day Facts
Image Source
- WED has a different theme that guides its actions each year. The day has been associated with a couple of themes in the past. This year, it will be ecosystem restoration.
- On this day, people extend their efforts to support the environment by cleaning around and planting trees.
- A powerful symbol of WED is the “Earth Anthem”, composed by poet-diplomat by the name Abbay K in 2013. Uniting communities globally, the anthem comprises eight languages and was launched during an Indian Council of Cultural Relations event, held in New Delhi, India.
World Environment Day Gifts
Gift each other on this occasion, adding value to the day and its purpose. You can make these gifts personalized while conveying deep meanings. Some sustainable gift ideas for your loved ones are –
- Compostable Phone Case
- Botanical or organic skincare
- Linen Apron
- Organic Coffee
- Bottle Planters
- Canvas bags
- Faux leather bag
- Glass bottles
- Hand-woven Wearables
World Environment Day Quotes
- Learn to use the resources of the Earth in a manner that we minimize our consumption so that we can share equitably with all today and leave behind enough for tomorrow’s inheritors.
– Sunita Narain, renowned environmentalist - “The environment is everything that isn’t me”.
– Albert Einstein - “Wasting time is useless cleaning the environment is the best.”
- “Let’s nurture the nature so that we can have a better future.”
- “I can find God in nature, in animals, in birds and the environment”.
– Pat Buckley - “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land”.
– Aldo Leopold - “We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment”.
– Margaret Mead - “Breathing can’t be stopped, but we can change & purify the quality of the air we breathe.”
So, gear up for the celebrations of the world’s biggest event. Partake with the utmost enthusiasm as this is the only occasion that you celebrate for the best of yourself and your generations to come. Treat Mother Earth with your effort of returning her what she has given you generously.
If you would like to know more about “The World Environment Day” You can also visit Wikipedia.
