World Environment Day
Next: June 5, 2027
Only one Earth. Look after it.
The story
Where it comes from
World Environment Day marks the first day of the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, the world's first environmental summit. The UN General Assembly designated 5 June that year, in resolution 2994 (XXVII); another resolution adopted the same day led to the creation of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which leads the day. It was first celebrated on 5 June 1973 under the slogan 'Only One Earth'. Since 1988 the main celebrations have moved to a different host country each year, each focused on one environmental issue.
How it's celebrated
Millions of people in more than 150 countries take part. Host governments announce new commitments, and communities organise clean-ups, tree planting, races and talks around the issue chosen for the year, from plastic pollution to land restoration. UNEP invites anyone to register an activity, however small. A walk in a park, a litter pick or one change at home all count.
Did you know
- The rotation of host countries began in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1988.
- In 1987 UNEP marked the day by presenting its first Global 500 awards to environmental champions, among them Kenya's Wangari Maathai.
- During the celebrations in India in 2018, more than 6,000 people cleared over 90,000 kilograms of plastic from Mumbai's Versova Beach.
Coming up next
- Awal Muharram · June 6, 2027
- Russian Language Day · June 6, 2027
- World Food Safety Day · June 7, 2027
- World Oceans Day · June 8, 2027
- Dragon Boat Festival · June 9, 2027
- International Archives Day · June 9, 2027