Take Action this World Environment Day

Every June 5, this United Nations initiative mobilizes individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to “raise awareness, inspire change, and drive global action for a healthier, more sustainable planet.” World Environment Day was first celebrated in Switzerland in 1973 with the slogan “Only One Earth”. Since then, themes have ranged from climate change, and water security, to the illegal wildlife trade, and ecosystem restoration.

Why World Environment Day matters

Since its inception in the 1970s, World Environment Day has helped to spur on important international action, from protecting the ozone layer, to catalyzing discussions for ending plastic pollution. June 5 combines millions of voices and thousands of events to inspire international policy makers while making an immediate difference locally.

How to get involved

So what can you do to become part of this worldwide movement?

You can attend a World Environment Day event near you!

You could also organize a local or online event yourself (or with friends/colleagues/neighbours), and register it on the official World Environment Day website. To help promote your event and get your community involved, the UN Environment Programme provides practical campaign resources and social media toolkits (in different languages) which are updated annually in the run up to the big day. And you can always check out the Rainforest Alliance website for more inspiring information on climate action.

Ideas for World Environment Day Events in Your Community

Here are some fun, practical ideas to inspire you for your own event–just remember to keep it safe, inclusive, and if necessary, consult local authorities for permission or help.

• Host a film festival to highlight environmental issues. Where to start? There are just so many amazing films that show the beauty of our planet, teach us how to better care for it, and inspire green action; from immersive accounts of Indigenous peoples’ struggles to protect their lands (like The Territory or A Queda do Céu) to Bong Joon-Ho’s Okja—a heartfelt sci-fi satire that asks important environmental questions about the meat industry. And for essential kid-friendly viewing, think The Wild Robot, Arco, Princess Mononoke, or the “just-as-good-as-it-was-then” 90s classic Fern Gully.
• Plan a neighbourhood talent show. Come on, you know you want to see a little kid’s rendition of Kermit’s “It’s Not Easy Being Green”…! You could make the “price” of admission a small donation to a climate action organisation like the Rainforest Alliance (check out our fundraiser page) or even a small piece of e-waste that needs to be recycled—then deliver your haul to a responsible local e-waste recycler.

• Organize a tree planting. Whether you go big (like working with local authorities to plant trees in a public space) or small (like planting a sapling in your own garden), more trees is always a good thing for our planet.
• Host an art show focusing on that year’s World Environment Day theme. Why not ask a local cafe if you could organize a photography or painting exhibit on the year’s theme? Don’t forget to include clear signage for World Environment Day, and maybe even educational captions with each art piece.
• Coordinate a community clean-up. Talk with your neighbours to divvy up the local area into small sections that two or three of you can tackle together. Provide some trash bags, gloves, trash pickers, etc, and enjoy each other’s company while you walk your assigned area to pick up any trash. Whether you collect one small bag or an entire truck’s worth, it makes an immediate, visible difference to your environment.

So get involved! And remember, environmental action isn’t just for June 5, it’s all year round. Sign up below to get sustainable tips, check out the everyday actions you can take for our planet, and you can live every day like it’s World Environment Day!