World Environment Day can be celebrated in many ways, including street rallies, bicycles parades, green concerts, essay and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, recycling efforts, clean-up campaigns and much more. In many countries, this annual event is used to enhance political attention and action.
Heads of State, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Environment deliver statements and commit themselves to care for the Earth. Serious pledges are made which lead to the establishment of permanent governmental structures dealing with environmental management and economic planning. This observance also provides an opportunity to sign or ratify international environmental conventions.
On this World Environment Day, let us examine the state of our environment. Let us consider carefully the actions which each of us must take, and then address ourselves to our common task of preserving all life on earth in a mood of sober resolution and quiet confidence.
World Environment Day 2007 Tromsø, Norway
Saturday, 14 June 2008
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 5 JUNE 2008
World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.
The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. Recognising that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, UNEP is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.
The main international celebrations of World Environment Day 2008 will be held in New Zealand. UNEP is honoured that the city of Wellington will be hosting this United Nations day (read the press release).
The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. Recognising that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, UNEP is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.
The main international celebrations of World Environment Day 2008 will be held in New Zealand. UNEP is honoured that the city of Wellington will be hosting this United Nations day (read the press release).
The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
Host Countries of International World Environment day and Global 500 Ceremony Event
Year City Country
1999 Tokyo Japan
1998 Moscow Russian Federation
1997 Seoul Republic of Korea
1996 Istanbul Turkey
1995 Pretoria South Africa
1994 London United Kingdom
1993 Beijing China
1992 Rio de Janeiro Brazil
1991 Stockholm Sweeden
1990 Maxico City Mexico
1989 Brussels Belgium
1988 Bangkok Thailand
1987 Nairobi Kenya
[
1999 Tokyo Japan
1998 Moscow Russian Federation
1997 Seoul Republic of Korea
1996 Istanbul Turkey
1995 Pretoria South Africa
1994 London United Kingdom
1993 Beijing China
1992 Rio de Janeiro Brazil
1991 Stockholm Sweeden
1990 Maxico City Mexico
1989 Brussels Belgium
1988 Bangkok Thailand
1987 Nairobi Kenya
[
Wed Themes for the Environment day
Year Theme
1999 Our Earth-Our Future-Just Save It!
1998 For Life on Earth - Save Our Seas
1997 For Life on Earth
1996 Our Earth,Our Habitat,Our Home
1995 We the peoples:United for the Global Environment
1994 One Earth One Family
1993 Poverty and the Environment - Breaking the vicious Circle
1992 Only One Earth - Care and Share
1991 Climate Change: Need for Global Partnership
1990 Children and the Environment
1989 Global Warming : Global Warning
1988 When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last
1987 Environment and Shelter : More Than A Roof
1986 A Tree For Peace
1985 Youth : Population and the Environment
1984 Desertification
1983 Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste : Acid Rain and Energy
1982 Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns)
1981 Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains and Environmental Economics
1980 A New Challenge for the New Decade:Development Without Destruction
1979 Only One Future for Our Children - Development Without Destruction
1978 Development Without Destruction
1977 Ozone Layer Environmental Concern;Lands Loss and Soil Degradation; Firewood
1976 Water: Vital Resource for Life
1975 Human Settlements
1974 Only one Earth
1999 Our Earth-Our Future-Just Save It!
1998 For Life on Earth - Save Our Seas
1997 For Life on Earth
1996 Our Earth,Our Habitat,Our Home
1995 We the peoples:United for the Global Environment
1994 One Earth One Family
1993 Poverty and the Environment - Breaking the vicious Circle
1992 Only One Earth - Care and Share
1991 Climate Change: Need for Global Partnership
1990 Children and the Environment
1989 Global Warming : Global Warning
1988 When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last
1987 Environment and Shelter : More Than A Roof
1986 A Tree For Peace
1985 Youth : Population and the Environment
1984 Desertification
1983 Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste : Acid Rain and Energy
1982 Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns)
1981 Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains and Environmental Economics
1980 A New Challenge for the New Decade:Development Without Destruction
1979 Only One Future for Our Children - Development Without Destruction
1978 Development Without Destruction
1977 Ozone Layer Environmental Concern;Lands Loss and Soil Degradation; Firewood
1976 Water: Vital Resource for Life
1975 Human Settlements
1974 Only one Earth
What Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee said.............
Speaking at a function to mark the World Environment Day, Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee cautioned that if the rich nations continued to put unrelenting pressure on our planet's limited and non-renewable resources, and if the present glaring imbalances in global economic growth continued, it would be difficult to prevent the damages to the environment on a universal scale.
He regretted that ironically it is the poor who have to pay a heavier price for the guilt of the rich. He called for radical changes in the international financial and trading systems, so as to bridge the gulf between the developing and the developed nations, and to halt the worsening condition of want and suffering in developing nations, which are not only a source of social discord but also of environmental degradation. Stressing that there was no basic conflict between development and environmental protection, the Prime Minister called for broadening and deepening the sweep of environmental protection as a people's movement.
He called WED a day "to focus our attention on our collective failure to protect the environment, which has endangered sustainable development for the human race". He said, "conservation and protection of the environment have been the cornerstone of Indian ethos and culture." He added, "in spite of this cultural tradition, the state of the environment in India today ought to be a cause of deep concern to all of us. Many of our cities are among the most polluted in the world. Our rivers at many places - including in Delhi- have become highly dirty. Our forest cover is rapidly depleting." He pointed out that soil erosion and degradation had become a major problem and was adversely affecting our agriculture. He said, "The amenities for safe drinking water and sanitation are so inadequate for the poor in cities and in villages that they are harming their health and happiness. Already the water table is dropping so fast in many places that we may not have enough water for all our needs in the coming decades."
Advising the industry he said, "I make a fervent appeal today. Don't wait for either the Government or the judiciary to enforce environmental laws. Voluntary and speedy compliance is good for both industry and society.
Do not think of investment in environment- friendly technologies as a burden you can shirk. It is a moral, social, and legal obligation you must fulfil. Moreover, it makes good business sense in the medium and long term. Wherever possible - and it is possible in many cases - we should also implement low cost green technologies that are appropriate to our needs and conditions."
He regretted that ironically it is the poor who have to pay a heavier price for the guilt of the rich. He called for radical changes in the international financial and trading systems, so as to bridge the gulf between the developing and the developed nations, and to halt the worsening condition of want and suffering in developing nations, which are not only a source of social discord but also of environmental degradation. Stressing that there was no basic conflict between development and environmental protection, the Prime Minister called for broadening and deepening the sweep of environmental protection as a people's movement.
He called WED a day "to focus our attention on our collective failure to protect the environment, which has endangered sustainable development for the human race". He said, "conservation and protection of the environment have been the cornerstone of Indian ethos and culture." He added, "in spite of this cultural tradition, the state of the environment in India today ought to be a cause of deep concern to all of us. Many of our cities are among the most polluted in the world. Our rivers at many places - including in Delhi- have become highly dirty. Our forest cover is rapidly depleting." He pointed out that soil erosion and degradation had become a major problem and was adversely affecting our agriculture. He said, "The amenities for safe drinking water and sanitation are so inadequate for the poor in cities and in villages that they are harming their health and happiness. Already the water table is dropping so fast in many places that we may not have enough water for all our needs in the coming decades."
Advising the industry he said, "I make a fervent appeal today. Don't wait for either the Government or the judiciary to enforce environmental laws. Voluntary and speedy compliance is good for both industry and society.
Do not think of investment in environment- friendly technologies as a burden you can shirk. It is a moral, social, and legal obligation you must fulfil. Moreover, it makes good business sense in the medium and long term. Wherever possible - and it is possible in many cases - we should also implement low cost green technologies that are appropriate to our needs and conditions."
World Environment day: 5th June
United Nations General Assembly in 1972 established the World Environment Day. On the same day United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was created too.Today World Environment Day is celebrated world over in many ways. World Environment Day (WED) is not just another day but a special day about you and me. Green concerts, essay and poster competitions, rallies, tree planting, recycling efforts, clean-up campaigns etc. are some of the ways people, organisations and the governments express their concern towards the environment. WED is also used to enhance political attention and action. Pledges are made and actions are taken, which lead to the establishment of permanent governmental structures dealing with environmental management and economic planning.
Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) celebrated WED with enthusiasm. At Tarapur Atomic Power Station, for instance, weeklong celebrations were held. Slogan competition on the theme, "Prevention of Pollution and Protection of Environment", and two lectures on environmental monitoring and impact assessment were organised. The environmental survey laboratory (ESL) was kept open to public. One hundred forty villagers visited the ESL, and were briefed on the activities and facilities at the ESL.
Environmental awareness was the focus at Kaiga Atomic Power Project. The 'Environmental Radiological Laboratory' (ERL), the 'health physics unit' and the 'public relations' wing of the Kaiga Project jointly managed the event. Mr. V. K. Sharma, Project Director of the Kaiga Project, inaugurated the daylong celebration. The main attraction at Kaiga was an exhibition depicting various environmental and nuclear safety aspects. The exhibition and the ERL were open to the members of public. Radioactivity, peaceful uses of atomic energy, environmental sampling programme by the ERL, results of preoperational survey etc. were depicted through charts. photographs, and video shows. Demonstrations of Grab Sampler for the sediment, depth water sampler, plankton net, the use of protective wares and personnel radiation measurement system were given to the visitors. School children enthusiastically participated in 'natural vs. man-made radiation' experiments. Computer aided audio video shows were also arranged for the visitors. About 300 people from the adjoining villages and residents of Kaiga visited the exhibition.
World Environment Day is also an intellectual event. Seminars, roundtable meetings and symposia are organised to pool the intellectual inputs. The World Environment Foundation organised a two-day international conference on "Environment Management: Building Synergy between Business and Environment during June 5-6, 1999 in New Delhi. Mr. M. Das, Chief Engineer (HSE&PA) of NPCIL presented a paper. "Nuclear Energy: Power Source for Sustainable Development in India" in the Congress. The 'Golden Peacock Environment Management Award' was given, during the Congress, to the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) of NPCIL, by the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr. Suresh P. Prabhu, in New Delhi on June 5, 1999 (see Indian News in this issue).
Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) celebrated WED with enthusiasm. At Tarapur Atomic Power Station, for instance, weeklong celebrations were held. Slogan competition on the theme, "Prevention of Pollution and Protection of Environment", and two lectures on environmental monitoring and impact assessment were organised. The environmental survey laboratory (ESL) was kept open to public. One hundred forty villagers visited the ESL, and were briefed on the activities and facilities at the ESL.
Environmental awareness was the focus at Kaiga Atomic Power Project. The 'Environmental Radiological Laboratory' (ERL), the 'health physics unit' and the 'public relations' wing of the Kaiga Project jointly managed the event. Mr. V. K. Sharma, Project Director of the Kaiga Project, inaugurated the daylong celebration. The main attraction at Kaiga was an exhibition depicting various environmental and nuclear safety aspects. The exhibition and the ERL were open to the members of public. Radioactivity, peaceful uses of atomic energy, environmental sampling programme by the ERL, results of preoperational survey etc. were depicted through charts. photographs, and video shows. Demonstrations of Grab Sampler for the sediment, depth water sampler, plankton net, the use of protective wares and personnel radiation measurement system were given to the visitors. School children enthusiastically participated in 'natural vs. man-made radiation' experiments. Computer aided audio video shows were also arranged for the visitors. About 300 people from the adjoining villages and residents of Kaiga visited the exhibition.
World Environment Day is also an intellectual event. Seminars, roundtable meetings and symposia are organised to pool the intellectual inputs. The World Environment Foundation organised a two-day international conference on "Environment Management: Building Synergy between Business and Environment during June 5-6, 1999 in New Delhi. Mr. M. Das, Chief Engineer (HSE&PA) of NPCIL presented a paper. "Nuclear Energy: Power Source for Sustainable Development in India" in the Congress. The 'Golden Peacock Environment Management Award' was given, during the Congress, to the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) of NPCIL, by the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr. Suresh P. Prabhu, in New Delhi on June 5, 1999 (see Indian News in this issue).
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