World Environment Day
World Environment Day is commemorated every year on June 5th. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the environment and how to protect our planet.
On this day, people are encouraged to do something beneficial for the Earth. They can do it alone or with friends, the important thing is to take action to make our planet a better place.
World Environment Day is not a public holiday so businesses and shops will remain open.
The Origin of World Environment Day
The UN General Assembly discussed the importance of making people interact and care for the environment during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972. It was also very important to educate people about issues such as deforestation, overpopulation, pollution, and climate change, and how they are affecting our environment.
World Environment Day was established keeping these in mind and bringing the importance of environmental preservation to the forefront.
The first World Environment Day was observed in 1974 with the theme "Only One Earth". It was observed annually since then with a different theme for every year that emphasizes the importance of protecting the environment and taking care of environmental issues.
The theme for 2023 is Solutions To Plastic Pollution.
Some of the popular themes were "Global Warming" in 1989, with activities held in Brussels. In 2007, the theme was "Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?" and the event was hosted by London.
Commemorate World Environment Day- Environment-friendly Practices
Proper Disposal and Recycling
Recycling is the easiest way you can help in helping the environment. It is something that most households and people around the world already do. Recycling is as simple as separating normal trash, plastic, paper, and glass and putting them in their specific bins. However, doing this at home is not enough.
We need to be careful while we are outside as well and make sure that we are disposing of the trash in proper places instead of scattering it on roads or public spaces.
Plant Trees
One activity you can organize with friends and family is planting trees in your backyards. Not only do trees absorb and filter pollutant gases, but homes with trees in their gardens cut air conditioning needs by 50%. This, in turn, helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Conserve Water
Water is a very important resource that forms an integral part of the growing needs of the population. There are multiple ways in which you can conserve water. For instance, you can take short showers, close the tap while brushing, steam vegetables instead of boiling (this is because boiling vegetables leads to loss of nutrients while steaming helps preserve them), and collect rainwater which you can later use to water plants, and so on.
Use Plastic Alternatives
Plastics have a negative impact on the environment when disposed of improperly. It clogs drains, pollutes water bodies, harms aquatic animals, releases toxic chemicals on burning, and so on. However, many eco-friendly alternatives have emerged lately such as Bioplastic. Although they are similar to plastics in utility, they are biodegradable products which means that they will naturally break down and decompose thus minimizing pollution.
Inform and Educate Others
Finally, make sure to educate other people so that they become aware of the environmental issues and ways to tackle them. This will allow them to reflect on their daily lifestyle habits and make changes accordingly. On World Environment Day, let us work together as a community to make the earth a better place to live.
Facts you should know
- As per the data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July 2021 was the hottest month of the year that has been recorded to date.
- Things have come to such a pass that afforestation is no longer a very effective means although it should still be strictly followed. In order to reduce carbon emissions to as close to zero as possible, 1.6 billion hectares of vegetation area need to be cultivated.
- According to the 2020 report of the World Health Organization (WHO), household or indoor air pollution resulted in the death of around 3.2 million people globally.
- While the temperature of the earth has been periodically increasing every decade by 0.14 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880, it has surpassed double the amount (0.32 degrees Fahrenheit) since 1981.
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