WED was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Since then, it has been held every year, always on the same date, and with an ever growing list of participating countries.

2023 This year, the World Environment Day focuses on "Solutions to Plastic Pollution" The 2022 theme for the World Environment Day,'Solutions to Plastic Pollution', focuses on solutions to plastic pollution. More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than 10 per cent is recycled. An estimated 19-23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually.

WED is a people's event with global participation. It has previously been celebrated in many ways, with people all over the world getting involved in street rallies, bicycle parades, concerts, school activities and tree planting as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns.

The day is also marked by a global summit attended by important environmental and governmental representatives, each year held by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at a new host city.

The economic and financial turmoil sweeping the globe is a true wake-up call, sounding an alarm about the need to improve upon old patterns of growth and make a transition to a new era of greener, cleaner development. The theme of this year's World Environment Day is meant to inspire all of us to do our part. - UNEP

• Official World Environment Day website

• GDRC: Sustainable Development
• GDRC: Urban Environmental Management
• GDRC: Environmental Decision-Making

• Other evironment-themed international days and observaces:
  

  	2 February:	Wetlands Day
  	21 March:	International Day of Forests
  	22 March:	World Water Day
  	22 May:	Biodiversity Day
  	5 June:	Environment Day
  	8 June:	Oceans Day
  	17 June:	Desertification Day
  	... see full list

  GDRC has been working on themes related to this international day/observance, in its programmes on (a) Sustainable Development; (b) Urban Environmental Management; and (c) Environmental Decision-Making. GDRC reaffirms its committment to uphold the objectives of the World Environment Day, and work towards better understanding of, and action on, conserving and protecting the global environment.