Wiser Environment is celebrating World Environment Day. Since 1972, the event has been celebrated every year on the 5th of June. In 2020, Colombia will be the host.
Promoting environmental awareness, the event engages businesses, governments and the public on tackling pressing environmental issues.
Time for nature
The UN General Assembly first established World Environment Day in 1972. Initially, the event was a discussion point at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. At that time, the UN agreed to adopt the resolution that:
A mallard near the Wiser Environment Office in Cambridgeshire. Taken by L. Barnes.
“all states participating in the conference have determined to work together for the preservation and enhancement of the human environment.”
Subsequently, the UN assigned the 5th of June as World Environment Day; committing to undertaking worldwide events that deepen environmental awareness. From 1987, countries from around the world were nominated as hosts. Since then, 29 different countries have held the event. In 1994 and 2007, London hosted the World Environment Day. The themes then were “One Earth, One Family” and “Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?” respectively.
In 2020, Colombia will host the event with the tagline “Time for Nature” and a theme focusing on maintaining biodiversity. Global climate change, Australian bushfires, Kenyan locust invasions and the COVID-19 pandemic all underline the need to protect the environment and its biodiversity. As the UN acknowledges – concern for the environment is both urgent and existential.
Biodiversity
As mentioned, Colombia’s theme for World Environment Day 2020 will be biodiversity. Biodiversity is the variety of all living things. This includes plants, animals and microorganisms. Together, those organisms form an ecosystem. Wiser Environment strongly believes that changes to the climate will have a knock-on negative effect on the entire ecosystem.
Coming off the back of a successful Earth Day 2020, Wiser encourages everyone to make the most of World Environment Day. Due to COVID-19, the event will be held online. Visit the UN webpage for live-streams, talks and concerts. Take some time out today and think about the environment.
To celebrate World Environment Day, Wiser Environment has selected a number of nature and wildlife photos taken by the Wiser team.
A vibrant bug hotel that shelters bees, ladybirds and woodlice. Taken by G. Outridge.
A mute swan in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. Taken by R. Hirst.
Growing tomato plants. Taken by G. Leach.
Tasty citrus tree. Taken by J. Webb.
Wildflowers growing from a felled tree trunk. Taken by P. Duggan.
Elephants in Vietnam. Taken by J. Santos.
Hedgehog visiting a quiet garden. Taken by E. Ellams.
Vietnamese horizon. Taken by N. Tran.