The theme for the World Environment Day 2005
was "Green Cities – Plan for the Planet!".
Today, the majority of the world's people
live in cities. Recognizing this historic moment, Mayor Gavin Newsom has invited
Mayors from around the globe to San Francisco for United Nations World Environment
Day to forge a collective path towards a sustainable urban future.
Mayors are emerging as the most powerful
and flexible agents of change. They are able to respond quickly to environmental
issues and are uniquely accountable to their citizens. Their enormous purchasing
power is shaping markets and making environmental sustainability a manufacturing
consideration. They are tackling the globe's most challenging environmental
issues and their visionary solutions provide inspiration and serve as models
to all sectors of society.
Six really important Things I can do
as a kid to help the environment
1.Shop locally: Walk to a store near
your house. Go to one store for every need instead of driving all around town
for two different items. If a store like that is too far away, then ride a bike
or a skateboard etc., By doing this, you will already be saving the earth and
tons of $.
2.Reduce Recycle Reuse: Reduce the amount
of trash by buying stuff with less packaging. Recycle used plastic, paper, aluminum,
and Styrofoam. Reuse old leather, clothing etc.
3. Use less energy you will save money
and the earth: Turn off appliances when you are not using them. It might not
make sense to a kid to turn off every light in their house before they leave
their house, but this is the biggest money saver of all 12, and by turning off
all of the lights you will save the earth the sun and us.
4.Eating: If you learn to cook yourself
a meal, you will be reducing the amount of pollution in the world. Why, because
most people in America buy fast food every day and half the people who buy fast
food throw the trash on the ground.
5.Saving trees: Use Sunday comics as
wrapping paper.
6.Put rotten food in the Compost. If
you don’t have a compost, don’t buy one, make one.
The topic for World Environment
Day 2006 was Deserts and Desertification and the slogan was "Don't
desert drylands".
The slogan emphasised the importance
of protecting drylands, 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 topic for World Environment
Day 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 the city of Tromsø, Norway, a city north of
the Arctic Circle self-styled as "The Gateway to the Arctic".
The UNEP statement on WED 2007 states:
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. World Environment Day is a people's event with colourful activities
such as street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essays and poster competitions
in schools, tree planting, as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns.
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." 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 greenhouse gases. Activities based around the event have
been planned in the Wellington region between the 28th of May and the 13th of
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.
A website has been set-up by the ministry
of education to support in-school initiatives. efs.tki.org.nz. It encourages
school pupils to make short term and longer term pledges to minimize emissions.
The list of pledges can be found on a typical school profile's page
The Chicago Botanic Garden served as
the North American host for World Environment Day on June 5, 2008. The daylong
celebration featured activities for everyone in the family along with presentations
by local and national organizations in the areas of food, shelter, energy, education,
transportation, and public awareness.
A relatively new way of making environmental
causes popular is through online games.
This trend has gained popularity in recent
times.
An online game by an independent publisher
was launched for WED 2008 with this year's theme "CO2, Kick the Habit!
Towards a Low Carbon Economy." the game was called Carbon chomper and can
be played for free.
