World Environment Day: 19 Fun Ways to Celebrate Your Love for the Planet

There are so many ways to celebrate World Environment Day that every person can find at least one action or activity that can fit into their busy lives. Other people may find themselves struggling to choose from a list of their personal favorites!

In this article, learn all about World Environment Day and how it is being celebrated around the world. Explore new ways to experience and make the best of this global campaign!

What Is World Environment Day?

World Environment Day (WED) is a global campaign that is recognized and celebrated annually. It was put into effect by the General Assembly of the United Nations,¹³ along with the UN Environment Program (UNEP),¹⁴ in June of 1972 and celebrated for the first time the following year.

Each year, WED is hosted by a different country and emphasizes a different theme. It is an annual, international conference on the environmental crises plaguing the planet, and it is accompanied by organized and individual observations around the world.

The goal of WED is to spread and heighten environmental awareness through the distillation of environmental facts and the hyperfocus on a specific environmental issue each year. It also serves to increase environmental knowledge while promoting earth-friendly behaviors.^10,12

What Is Environment Day’s Purpose?

Some individuals may find themselves asking the question “What is Environment Day’s purpose?” The aim of World Environment Day is to promote global awareness of the many significant environmental issues plaguing the earth, particularly those resulting from human activity (most of them).

In choosing a theme for each year’s WED, the United Nations draws more attention to and more intense scrutiny of the most urgent environmental crises. By raising awareness of these serious issues, the WED also encourages action toward more responsible stewardship of the planet.¹²

What Is the Theme of 2024 World Environment Day?

Each year, a different theme is selected for the focus of World Environment Day. The goal of the theme is to draw attention to a particular environmental cause or issue.

The theme of 2024 World Environment Day is “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.” The particular focus is on combating erosion and desertification while restoring land and building drought resilience.^1,10

What Are the Best Ways To Celebrate World Environment Day?

There are numerous ways to celebrate World Environment Day, making it possible for every person on the planet to find a way that fits their busy lives.

Celebrating the environment may take the form of learning more about the earth and its valuable resources or direct action to ameliorate the impacts of human activity on climate change.

The following list expounds on different ideas for celebrating the environment.^{5, 8, 11}

1. Build a backyard garden: A vegetable backyard garden reduces greenhouse gas emissions and eliminates pesticides in food.
2. Plant a tree: Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air, counteracting the effects of global warming. Get a tree planting quote or check out the Plant-A-Tree Program.¹⁶
3. Start a community garden or a pineal trade station: Get the neighbors involved in a community effort to protect and bolster the environment.
4. Switch one everyday product to plastic-free: Most everyday products contain more plastic than consumers realize. Switching one item to plastic-free can make a big difference.
5. Locate your local hazardous waste facility and textile recycling facility: Keeping electronic items and clothing out of landfills reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
6. Start a compost bin or locate your local composting facility: Composting reduces landfill waste and emissions.
7. Read recycling labels: Items that aren’t recycled properly won’t be recycled at all, so pay attention to the labels when purchasing and discarding!
8. Donate to conservation and restoration efforts: Individuals with minimal time and a little extra money can make a difference by donating to organized causes.
9. Switch to an electric vehicle: An electric vehicle is a great long-term investment that reduces fossil fuel combustion.
10. Invest in solar panels: Power your home with the sun to reduce fossil fuel combustion for energy generation. (See “Solar Power for Your Home”)¹⁷

Ways To Celebrate World Environment Day With Kids (Environment Day Activities for Families)

Environmental awareness and action aren’t only for adults, and there are a lot of ways to celebrate World Environment Day with children and family groups!

In fact, teaching children about the environment at a young age will help instill in them an appreciation for nature and its many gifts.

Here some World Environment Day activities to do with children:^5,11

1. Plant a window garden
2. Grow a plant from seed
3. Read a book about nature
4. Take a hike and explore nature
5. Learn about an endangered species¹⁸
6. Identify invasive species in your area
7. Ride bikes somewhere
8. Clean up trash
9. Write a letter to your state representative (See “Find Your Representative”)¹⁹

Are World Environment Day and Earth Day the Same Thing?

World Environment Day and Earth Day are not one in the same,¹⁵ though they do have similar aims.

There are a few key differences, outlined here.^4,11

The Origin

Earth Day has been around a couple of years longer than World Environment Day. It was founded by a U.S. senator in 1970, in response to a large oil spill the previous year; the metaphorical straw that broke the camel’s back.

Earth Day began with a nationwide protest on environmental issues, kickstarting the modern environmental movement.⁴

Two years later, the United Nations convened its first-ever United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, which was held in Stockholm, Sweden. At the conference, the participating countries adopted a set of principles along with an action plan and various resolutions for addressing environmental concerns.

World Environment Day was one of the outcomes of this inaugural conference.⁶

The Purpose

Celebrations of Earth Day and World Environment Day have a lot in common, even though at their cores, these two campaigns have somewhat different directives. World Environment Day’s primary focus is on increasing global awareness of environmental issues.

Earth Day’s primary focus is on encouraging global action to protect the environment. Both are critical in the fight against climate change.

The Date

Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22, while World Environment Day is celebrated each year on June 5.

The Celebration

Earth Day remained a United States initiative until 1990 when the celebration was globalized. Nowadays, it is celebrated by more than 190 countries, and by millions of people worldwide.

In fact, Earth Day has inspired the adoption of Earth Hour, Earth Week, and Earth Month, all extensions of the key principles of Earth Day.⁴

World Environment Day is hosted by a different country each June, and every year brings a new theme with a particular environmental emphasis. Today, WED is celebrated through a combination of organized actions (Ex. Stockholm +50) and individualized actions.¹¹

Why Are Trees Important?

Have you ever pondered the question “Why are trees so important?”

While most people understand almost instinctively that trees are a fundamental component of the earth, plenty of individuals are unaware of the myriad of ways that trees support life on Earth.

The following list enumerates the importance of trees:^3,7

• Trees convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into breathable oxygen (O₂)
• Trees sequester and store atmospheric CO₂ as embodied carbon
• Trees serve as habitats for thousands of species of animals, insects, and even other plants, many of which are endangered
• Trees stabilize the soil, combating erosion
• Tree shade can cool homes, reducing the need for AC
• Trees are a valuable source of food, medicine, and other resources
• Trees create jobs

World Environment Day is all about increasing awareness of environmental issues around the globe, and each year this campaign focuses on a specific issue, such as air pollution, deforestation, or endangered species.

In 2024, WED will emphasize land restoration with the slogan “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.”

Read this article to learn about this opportunity and discover many ways to celebrate World Environment Day and take care of this beautiful earth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ways To Celebrate World Environment Day