WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

The World Environment Day is observed every year on the 5th of June. As such, it will be held on the same date in 2012. This day is special because it is the occasion when the United Nations (UN) creates a worldwide awareness of preserving the environment. However, it is not a public holiday.World Environment Day is the day for global action and resolution toward keeping the environment healthy for one and all. There are campaigns, processions and parades to make this day eventful where special importance is given to tree-planting and clean-up campaigns so as to create an eco-friendly environment.The United Nations Environment Programme focuses on creating a cleaner and greener environment. Under this initiative, activities are carried out throughout the year. However, World Environment Day is the occasion when the activities reach the climax. The UN has been taking special initiatives and observing this day since 1972.

The World Environment Day 2012 theme is Forests: Nature at Your Service. The purpose of this theme is to see that special importance is given to forests by different countries. In fact, this is the reason why the United Nations has declared 2012 as the International Year of Forests. Under the United Nations Environment Programme, India has been declared the host of 2012 World Environment Day. The aim is to let India and other countries strive hard through the process of developing a green economy. Keeping this in mind, the World Environment Day 2012 theme has been declared as one which should help people worldwide understand why forests are important. This will help them indulge in activities to conserve the forests and ensure a green environment.
The venues for the observance of World Environment Day 2012 in India are the cities, Delhi and Mumbai. A number of activities will be held in these venues just to make people aware of the positive aspects of a green environment. On the World Environment Day 2012 (Tue 2012), the UN is expected to give emphasis on the fact that individual actions to preserve the nature can actually help in sustaining a green environment. The WED 2012 in India will witness a wide range of activities like tree-planting by schools and community clean-ups including initiatives to clean up the parks in cities. Photo contests on forests will be held. Besides, bird watching trips will be organized on the World Environment Day 2012. A number of organizations may hold exhibitions to showcase the importance of forest preservation. In addition, there’ll be green petitions and campaigns held in order to emphasize the need for a cleaner and greener environment. A special highlight of the World Environment Day is the colors used in numerous promotions of the events held on this occasion. The primary colors used are green, blue and brown. These are colors that stand for the earth or nature and its resources. Some of the images and photos used to promote the campaigns on this day include snow-clad mountains, unpolluted rivers and natural flora and fauna.

. The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was from 5–16 June 1972. It was established by the  United Nations General Assembly in 1972. The first World Environment Day was on 1973. World Environment Day is hosted every year by a different city with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition in the week of 5 June. World  1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. They play a key role in our battle against climate change, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere while storing carbon dioxide. Thousands of activities were organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more.This year's global host,India – a country of wide  biodiversity 'Many Species. One Planet. One Future', was the theme of 2010. . It celebrated the incredible diversity of life on Earth as part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity  . This year's global host, Rwanda  a country of exceptional biodiversity that has made huge strides on environmental protection – leaded the celebrations with three days of keynote events.Thousands of activities were organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more.

The theme for WED 2009 was 'Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change'. It reflected the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial  climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.WED 2009's host was Mexico which reflected the growing role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the carbon markets.Mexico is also a leading partner in UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign   The country, with the support of its President and people, has spearheaded the pledging and planting of some 25 per cent of the trees under the campaign. Accounting for around 1.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country is demonstrating its commitment to climate change on several fronts.Pittsburgh, was selected as the North American host city by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to join World Environment Day-2010.The theme of this year was "Many Species: One Planet, One Future." Highlighting theme "Biodiversity- Ecosystem Management and the Green Economy".

The host for World Environment Day 2008 was New Zealand, with the main international celebrations scheduled for Wellington. The slogan for 2008 was "CO2, Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy a." New Zealand was one of the first countries to pledge to achieve carbon neutrality, and will also focus on forest management as a tool for reducing green house Activities based around the event have been planned in the Wellington region between 28 May and 13 June.Volunteers appeared around the Auckland   region in New Zealand on World Environment Day 2008. These volunteers were located primarily at major transport hubs (such as train stations)and advertised World Environment Day, as well as handing out eco-friendly products such as eco-friendly light-bulbs and eco-friendly shopping bags. Volunteers at public transport hubs also handed out stickers with the slogan I'm reducing my carbon footprint! World Environment Day, Thursday 5 June 2008 as well as providing free entertainment as an act of gratitude to public transport users.

The topic for World Environment Day for 2007 was "Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?" During International Polar Year, WED 2007 focused on the effects that climate change is having on polar ecosystems and communities, on other ice- and snow-covered areas of the world, and the resulting global impacts.The main international celebrations of the WED 2007 were held in theThe topic for WED 2006 was Deserts and Desertification and the slogan was "Don't desert drylands ".The slogan emphasised the importance of protecting  dryland, which cover more than 40% of the planet's surface. This  ecosystem is home to one-third of the world's people who are more vulnerable members of society. The main international celebrations of the World Environment Day 2006 were held in  Algeria.The theme for the 2005 World Environment Day was "Green Cities" and the slogan was "Plan for the Planet!". Today, the majority of the world's people live in cities

The 2012 theme for World Environment Day is Green Economy: Does it include you? Evidently, there are two parts to this theme and the first tackles the subject of the Green Economy. This is where some people shut off their minds because they find the concept of the Green Economy a little too complex to understand.

On the contrary, the Green Economy is really something that is applicable all around you and it is easy to imagine how you fit in it. Visit the ‘ What is the Green Economy ?’ page to read a layman’s narrative of this concept. The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.Practically speaking, a Green Economy is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. These investments need to be catalyzed and supported by targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes. But what does all this mean for you? Well, this essentially what the second part of the theme is all about. If the Green Economy is about social equity and inclusiveness then technically it is all about you! The question therefore asks you to find out more about the Green Economy and assess whether, in your country, you are being included in it.

Prof. John Kurakar