World Environment Day facts for kids

Quick facts for kids World Environment Day
Official name	UN World Environment Day
Also called	Eco Day, Environment Day, WED (world environment day)
Type	International
Significance	Environmental issues awareness
Observances	Environment Protection
Date	5 June
Next time	5 June 2026 (2026-06-05)
First time	5 June 1973; 52 years ago (5 June 1973)

World Environment Day in India

World Environment Day (WED) is a special day celebrated every year on June 5th. It's all about getting people to think about and take action to protect our environment. Many groups, businesses, and governments around the world support it. It's the main day the United Nations uses to spread the word about caring for our planet.

This important day started in 1973. Since then, it has helped people learn about big environmental problems. These include marine pollution (trash in the ocean), overpopulation (too many people for the Earth's resources), global warming (the Earth getting hotter), and wildlife crime (harming animals and plants illegally).

World Environment Day is a worldwide event. Over 143 countries take part every year. Countries like India, Canada, Brazil, and the United States join in. Each year, there's a special theme. This theme helps businesses, non-profit groups, communities, and leaders work together for environmental causes.

History of World Environment Day

World Environment Day began in 1972. The United Nations created it at a big meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. This meeting was called the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. People talked about how humans affect the environment and how we can live better with nature.

One year later, in 1973, the very first World Environment Day was held. Its theme was "Only One Earth." This simple message reminded everyone that we share one planet and need to protect it.

Host Cities and Themes

Every year, a different city or country hosts the main World Environment Day celebrations. This helps to highlight different environmental issues around the world. Each year also has a special theme to focus on a specific problem or solution.

Important Themes and Actions

For nearly 50 years, World Environment Day has helped people learn about and act for the environment. Here are some key moments and themes from its history:

2005: Green Cities

Standard WED banners hung in San Francisco in May 2005

The theme for 2005 was "Green Cities." The slogan was "Plant for the Planet!" This encouraged people to make their cities greener and more environmentally friendly.

2006: Protecting Drylands

In 2006, the theme was about Deserts and Desertification. The slogan was "Don't desert drylands." This highlighted how important it is to protect dry areas of the Earth from turning into deserts. The main events were held in Algeria.

2007: Melting Ice

The 2007 theme was "Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?" It focused on how climate change affects places with ice and snow, like the Arctic and Antarctic. It also looked at the global effects of melting ice. The main celebrations were in Tromsø, Norway, a city north of the Arctic Circle.

2008: Low Carbon Economy

New Zealand hosted World Environment Day in 2008. The slogan was "CO₂, Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy." This theme encouraged reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. New Zealand was one of the first countries to promise to become carbon-neutral.

2009: Unite Against Climate Change

The theme for 2009 was "Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change." The famous song "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson was named the "World Environment Day Song." Mexico hosted the events that year.

2010: Celebrating Biodiversity

The 2010 theme was "Many Species. One Planet. One Future." It celebrated the amazing variety of life on Earth. This was part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity. Many activities took place worldwide, like beach clean-ups and concerts. Rwanda was the host country.

2011: Forests and Nature

The theme for 2011 was "Forests: Nature At Your Service." People around the world organized many activities. These included tree plantings, film festivals, and community events. India hosted the main celebrations.

2012: Green Economy

The 2012 theme was "Green Economy." This theme asked people to think about how their daily lives and choices fit into a "Green Economy." A green economy aims to improve human well-being and social fairness, while greatly reducing environmental risks. Brazil hosted the celebrations.

2013: Reduce Food Waste

The 2013 theme was "Think.Eat.Save." This campaign focused on the huge amount of food wasted each year. Wasting less food helps save resources and reduces our carbon footprint. The campaign aimed to help people make smart choices about their food. Mongolia was the host country.

2014: Small Islands and Sea Levels

The 2014 theme focused on Small Islands Developing States (SIDS). It highlighted the challenges these islands face, especially from global warming and rising ocean levels. The slogan was "Raise your voice, not the sea level." Barbados hosted the global celebrations.

2015: Consume with Care

The slogan for 2015 was "Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care." This slogan was chosen by a vote on social media. Italy hosted the 43rd World Environment Day. The celebrations were part of the Milan Expo.

2016: Stop Wildlife Crime

The 2016 World Environment Day theme was "Go wild for life." This event aimed to reduce and stop the illegal trade of wildlife. Angola was chosen as the host country for 2016.

2017: Connect with Nature

Activities for World Environment Day in Bhopal, India

The theme for 2017 was "Connecting People to Nature." It encouraged people to connect with nature wherever they are, from cities to wild lands. Canada was the host nation.

2018: Beat Plastic Pollution

The theme for 2018 was "Beat Plastic Pollution." India was the host nation. This theme hoped to inspire people to reduce their use of plastics. Especially harmful are single-use plastics, which have bad effects on the environment. The goal was to free our natural places, wildlife, and health from plastics.

2019: Beat Air Pollution

The theme for 2019 was "Beat Air Pollution." China was the host nation. This theme was chosen because air pollution causes millions of early deaths each year.

2020: Time for Nature

The theme for 2020 was "Time for Nature." It was hosted in Colombia in partnership with Germany. Colombia is a "megadiverse country," meaning it has a huge variety of plants and animals. It has nearly 10% of the planet's biodiversity.

2021: Ecosystem Restoration

The theme for 2021 was "Ecosystem Restoration." Pakistan hosted the event. On this day, the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration was also launched. This is a big effort to help nature heal and recover.

2022: Only One Earth

The theme for 2022 was "Only One Earth." This was the same theme as the very first World Environment Day. Sweden hosted the event, reminding everyone that we still have only one planet to care for.

2023: Solutions to Plastic Pollution

The theme for 2023 was "Solution to plastic pollution." Côte d'Ivoire hosted the event. This theme reminded people that their actions against plastic pollution matter. It encouraged faster action to move towards a circular economy, where waste is minimized.

Images for kids

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  Stage in front of the Brandenburg Gate on Environmental Festival 2011

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  World Environment Day 2011 in Donetsk, Ukraine

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  US Consul CG Yee, along with the Mayor of Thessaloniki Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, the Prefect of Thessaloniki Panagiotis Psomiadis, and many others participating in World Environment Day on the waterfront bike path

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  Trees planting during the World Environment Day 2012 in Konso, Ethiopia

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  People in Melbourne celebrate World Environment Day 2011 with a rally to fund renewable energy.

See also

• Arbor Day
• Earth Day
• List of environmental dates
• United Nations Conference on the Human Environment