World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Commemorated on 5 June each year, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The agenda for WED 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.
WED, established under the premise of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), whose headquarters are in Nairobi.and is celebrated in more than 100 countries around the world. As a day that stimulates awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and the public action. In 1973 The World Environment Day was celebrated for the 1st time. The theme for WED 2009 was 'Your Planet Needs You-Unite to Combat Climate Change'. It actuly reflected the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal to fight the climate change. The themes for celebrations for World Environment Day were Children and the Environment in the year 1990, The Environment Millennium- Time to Act (2000), Connect with the World Wide Web for Life (2001), World Environment Day—Not just another day (2002), Water—Two Billion People are Dying for it! (2003), Wanted! Seas and Oceans—Dead or Alive (2004), Green Cities—Plan for the Planet! (2005), Don't Abandon the Deserts! (2006), Melting Ice—A Hot Topic? (2007) and C02 kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy (2008). The past events included themes such as Only one Earth, Human Settlements, Water: Vital Resource for Life, Ozone Layer & Development Without Destruction.
World Environment Day is celebrated in India with programmes of tree plantation, cultural activities by school students, drawing and elocution competitions, lectures on topics related to environment protection. . Among other events, the Heritage India Foundation organized a multimedia presentation. GDCL, Gujarat carried out a workshop on Sustainable Project Management for eco- friendly infrastructure and energy efficiency. Team R.A.K.S.H.A organized a week long Programme in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The programmes included tree planting, awareness rising about global warming, vegetarianism, wildlife conservation, nature trail and bird watching in a wild life area, plastic bags removal from wild life areas and educating people about the effects of plastic on nature and environment. Team R.A.K.S.H.A. also launched a snake helpline and organized road shows and awareness drives about "go green" revolution and curbing global warming from a common man's perspective.
Eco tourism and cleaning drives were promoted by various institutes to create awareness and sensitivity to the issues of global warming. The Mumbai-based Humanity Foundation arranged a Lecture of Environmental Experts for the General public on the topic "How does a Common man's support save the Environment". A Student Partnerships Worldwide (SPW) programme reinforced the three R's of environmental conservation, such as students calculating their individual carbon footprints; students and teachers taking a pledge to become 'green' ambassadors; and recycled paper making. The Forestry Department and local business alike gave talks of environmentally friendly practices and offer career advice for those looking for work in a 'green' sector.