The United Nations (UN)’s World Environment Day is annually observed across the globe on 5th June to create awareness about the importance of protecting the environment. The day also aims to promote the involvement of various stakeholders like government, corporate, and individuals to focus on environmental issues.
- The annual observance of World Environment Day has been led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1973.
The theme of World Environment Day 2022 is Only One Earth.
Note: “Only One Earth” was the slogan for the first UN Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972.
Host of World Environment Day 2022:
World Environment Day 2022 is hosted by Sweden.
- The year 2022 also marks the 50-year anniversary of the 1972 Stockholm Conference.
- 50 years after the first UN Conference on the Human Environment, Sweden hosted the Stockholm+50, an international meeting convened by the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA), from 2nd to 3rd June 2022, and World Environment Day on 5th June 2022.
World Environment Day 2022:
“Only One Earth” is the campaign slogan of World Environment Day 2022 with the focus on “Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature”.
Background:
i.On 15th December 1972, the UNGA adopted a resolution A/RES/2994 (XXVII) and designated June 5th of every year as World Environment Day.
ii.The first-ever World Environment Day was observed on 5th June 1973.
iii.On the same day, the UNGA also adopted the resolution A/RES/2997 (XXVII) which led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the specialized agency on environmental issues.
Note: 2022 also marks the 50th year of the establishment of the UNEP.
Observance in India:
MoHUA Launches the “Clean and Green” campaign:
i.On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the “Clean and Green” campaign under which the States and Union territories and Urban Local Bodies across India will participate to make India free of single-use plastic.
ii.According to the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) (Amendment) Rules, 2021, the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carrying bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than 075 microns (µ) i.e. 0.075 millimetres (mm) in thickness has been banned with effect from 30th September 2021, as opposed to fifty microns (50 µ), recommended earlier under PWM Rules, 2016.
Indian Railways observe World Environment Day:
i.Annually Indian Railways observes World Environment Day in a befitting manner in line with the theme of World Environment Day.
ii.Indian Railways is an environmentally friendly means of bulk transportation. It has been taking several initiatives to have a positive impact on the environment by reducing pollution, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and promoting resources and energy efficiency.
Note: On 1st June 2022, during the Gala Ceremony of the UIC International Sustainable Railway Awards (ISRA) held in Berlin, Germany, Indian Railways was honoured with UIC International Sustainable Railway Awards under the “Best Use of Zero Carbon Technology” for feeding solar Energy Directly to 25 kilovolts (kV) AC Traction System.
About United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP):
Executive-Director– Inger Andersen
Incepted in 1972
Headquarters- Nairobi, Kenya
