On June 5, 1972, United Nations held “United Nations Conference on Human Environment” in Stockholm Sweden. At the conference, United Nations adopted “Declaration of United Nations Conference on Human Environment” and identified June 5 each year as “World Environment Day”. In October the same year, the 27^th General Assembly of the United Nations adopted this proposal. Establishment of World Environment Day reflects the awareness and standpoint of the various countries in the world on environmental issues and expresses the yearning and pursuit of mankind for better environment.

World Environment Day is one of the media for the United Nations to promote global environmental awareness and stimulate governments to pay attention to environmental issues and take necessary action for environmental protection.

UN organizations and governments of various countries around the world organize relevant events and campaigns on June 5 each year to popularize and emphasize the importance of protecting and improving human environment.

On June 5 each year, UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) selects one UN member country to hold “World Environment Day” anniversary celebration, releases “Annual Report on Environmental Status”, recognizes “Globe 500” and formulates key topics for “World Environment Day” based on environmental themes of the year in the world.

The significance of World Environment Day is to remind the world of the hazard and impact on environment from human activities, and request UN organizations and governments of various countries to organize various types of events on this day to popularize and emphasize the importance of protecting and improving human environment.

UNEP promulgates key topics of World Environment Day at the beginning of each year and releases “Annual Report on Environmental Status” on each World Environment Day. State Environmental Protection Administration of China releases gazette on environmental status in this period.

 

Origin of World Environment Day

From June 5 to 16, 1972, United Nations held UN Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm Sweden, the first world conference in human history to focus on research and protection of human environment. More than 1300 delegates from 113 countries were present at the conference. In addition to governmental delegates, nongovernmental scientists and scholars were also present at the conference. The conference discussed present-day environmental problems and formulated policies and countermeasures. Before the conference, Maurice F. Strong, secretary general of UN Conference on Human Environment, authorized 152 prestigious scientists and researchers in 58 countries to form an Expert Advisory Group with Dr. Ray DuBois as group leader who formulated an unofficial report “Only One Earth”. This conference proposed a resounding environmental protection slogan: Only One Earth! After 12-day discussion and exchange, the conference formulated and promulgated “Declaration of United Nations Conference on Human Environment” and an environmental protection “action plan” consisting of 109 proposals to call on governments and people in various countries around the world to protect human environment for the benefits of present and later generations.

 “Declaration of United Nations Conference on Human Environment” proposed 7 common standpoints and 26 common principles to guide and encourage people on our planet to protect and improve human environment. The Declaration specifies the rights and obligations of mankind on environment; sets up the “goal to protect and improve environment for the benefits of present and later generations”; “coordinate and accomplish this goal with the two basic goals of world peace and economic/social development”; calls on “governments and people of various countries around the world to protect and improve human environment for the benefits of present and later generations”. The conference proposed to set the opening day of the conference as “World Environment Day”.

In October 1972, the 27^th General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the proposal of UN Conference on Human Environment to designate June 5 each year as “World Environment Day” for celebration around the world. UN organizations and governments of various countries organize various types of celebrations on this day every year to remind people on our planet to pay attention to environmental status and the hazard on environment from human activities, and emphasize the importance of protecting and improving human environment.

Many countries, organizations and people organize various types of celebrations on “World Environment Day” to popularize and emphasize the importance of protecting and improving human environment. Meanwhile, UNEP promulgates “Annual Report on Environmental Status” and take practical measures to coordinate relations between man and environment. World Environment Day symbolizes a pursuit for improvement in human environment and embodies the contribution from governments of various countries to protecting human living environment. Also, it reflects the awareness and standpoints of people around the world on environmental issues. In January 1973, based on the resolution of UN Conference on Human Environment, the General Assembly of the United Nations established United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and established Governing Council of Environmental Programme (GCEP) and Environmental Fund. As a permanent organization, UNEP is responsible for dealing with day-to-day affairs of United Nations on environmental issues. Also, it serves as an international environmental activity center to promote and coordinate environmental protection work inside and outside the United Nations.

On June 5 every year, UNEP organizes World Environment Day celebrations, releases “Annual Report on Environmental Status”, recognizes “Globe 500” and formulates key topics for “World Environment Day” based on environmental themes of the year in the world. These key topics basically reflect environmental themes and hot issues of the year around the world.