Celebrations have kicked off in host country Saudi Arabia, while millions around the world are preparing for similar events.
More details about the climate-focused event include:
What is World Environment Day?
It takes place annually on June 5th, bringing together millions of people from around the world to join in efforts to protect and restore the planet.
The event aims to inspire positive change by bringing together citizens from over 150 countries to celebrate environmental activism and the power of governments, businesses and individuals to create a more sustainable world.
When did World Environment Day begin?
Since its inception in 1973, the event has been led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
It was established to pay tribute to the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, considered the world’s first environmental summit.
What is this year’s theme?
The theme of World Environment Day 2024 is land restoration, halting desertification and increasing drought resilience under the slogan “Our Land. Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration.”
Ecosystems around the world are under threat. Lakes, forests, fields, farmland and other natural areas that support humans are being altered. Nearly 40% of the world’s land area is affected, and the frequency and duration of droughts have increased by 29% since 2000.
Unless urgent action is taken, three-quarters of the world’s population could be affected by the middle of this century.
This World Environment Day therefore highlights how crucial it is to restore land, reverse desertification and increase drought resilience.
To limit global warming to 2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100, we need to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. This requires ecosystem restoration and needs to be matched with the decarbonization of the economy.
To halt ecosystem loss, countries have pledged in recent years to restore a combined 1 billion hectares of degraded land, among other objectives.
Much of the restoration work so far has been carried out by the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, an international effort that aims to restore billions of hectares of land, from mountaintops to ocean floors, forests to farmland. The work was officially launched on World Environment Day 2021.
Saudi Arabia, this year’s host country, is one of the countries working on recovery.
According to Saudi Arabia’s Green Initiative goals, at least 49 million trees and shrubs are expected to be planted from 2021 onwards, reducing urban temperatures by 2.2 degrees Celsius.
Other Environmental Awareness Days
A number of environmental awareness days will be held this year, including:
World Oceans Day is held on June 8th to raise awareness of the vital role that oceans play in maintaining the health of the planet.
Meanwhile, June 16th is World Refill Day, a global awareness campaign to prevent plastic pollution and help people live with less waste.
This month also marks World Rainforest Day, which falls on June 22 and aims to help protect rainforests by raising awareness and encouraging conservation actions.