World Environment Day 2025: Know Date, History And Theme Of This Day
World Environment Day 2025: Every year on June 5, World Environment Day is observed across the globe to reinforce and sustain awareness around environmental action. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1973, it's the largest global platform for environmental outreach, engaging over 150 countries. Through campaigns, events, and initiatives, World Environment Day inspires individuals and communities to make changes, fostering a sense of urgency and addressing environmental challenges for a sustainable future.
On World Environment Day, offices, schools, the government, other organisations and local bodies hold events to raise awareness about environmental causes and involve local people to tackle plastic pollution and take action to protect the environment for a healthy life.
History of World Environment Day
The United Nations General Assembly declared June 5 as World Environment Day during the Stockholm Conference in 1972. It was the first world conference to make environmental protection a major issue. The UNEP was established in the same year. World Environment Day was celebrated for the first time in 1973. The first World Environment Day was celebrated in 1973 under the theme 'Only One Earth'.
According to the official website of the event, people from more than 150 countries participate in the United Nations International Day.
Theme of World Environment Day 2025
World Environment Day shines a spotlight on pressing environmental challenges. Each year, a distinct theme is chosen, tackling issues like climate change, global warming, and deforestation. This year, the theme of World Environment Day is 'Putting an End to Plastic Pollution'.
Plastic pollution worsens the triple threat facing our planet: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Each year, 11 million tons of plastic waste contaminate water ecosystems, while microplastics from sewage and landfills accumulate in soil, harming the environment. The annual cost of plastic pollution is estimated to be $300-600 billion.
Ridding the planet of plastic pollution is an important contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including those on climate action, sustainable production and consumption, protection of seas and oceans and repairing ecosystems and retaining biodiversity. The Republic of Korea will host the global celebrations.
Significance Of World Environment Day 2025
World Environment Day raises awareness, mobilises action, and promotes environmental sustainability. Through campaigns, events, and initiatives, the day inspires individuals and communities to make changes, fostering a sense of urgency and addressing environmental challenges for a sustainable future.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Man from Bihar planted over 10000 saplings at own cost
Manoj Kumar (54), a resident of Bettiah in West Champaran district has pledged to make a balance in the natural ecosystem. He has taken the effort to minimise the effects of environmental pollution and global warming on human health and existence. Belonging from a middle-class family and honours in Zoology from Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Mr. Kumar is all out to prove everyone wrong that one person cannot bring the change. This man alone has planted over 10000 saplings at his own cost in a span of 19 years. Impressed with his work, the Bihar government has decided to felicitate and reward him on June 5, 2025 on the occasion of World Environment Day during the state function organised at Gyan Bhavan in Patna. 'Balance in ecological systems is very important for sustainable growth. Rising human population and selfish development has deteriorated the quality of soil, water and air and also disturbed the balance in natural ecosystems. Nowadays several ecosystems on earth are in great danger which has created an alarming situation for the survival of a number of organisms on the earth,'Mr. Kumar told The Hindu. Asked about the beginning, he further said, 'Considering major challenges and issues in ecology, I started a campaign right from 2007 as a case study to protect the environment in the public domain.' The occasion was the 150th anniversary, India's first war of Independence of, the revolt of 1857 (1857-2007) and he linked the plantation of saplings in the memory of freedom fighters and armed forces to protect the environment and to strengthen patriotism. Working in a pharmaceutical company, Mr. Kumar has two daughters and a son. While one daughter is doing computer science from NIT Patna whereas the second daughter is preparing for competitive exams. Despite being on a low salary, he started the plantation, though his wife Rani Sarraf initially did not like his act but later she also understood its value. 'I try my level best to make people aware about the importance of plantation, the need of conservation of forest, water, soil and air. I am not alone now and several people help on the concept of 3 'P' that is Plant, Planet and Patriotism,'Mr. Kumar said. His team offers citizens to plant saplings by their own hand so that they may get sentimentally attached with plants and not damage it. The activity is performed at public places (by getting permission from government of Bihar) like schools, colleges, hospitals, paramilitary premises, besides roads at villages, towns, Valmiki Tiger reserve and even in neighbouring country Nepal. 'We have a mission and vision to make India green having 33% of forest area when we celebrate the 175 anniversary of 1857,'Mr. Kumar asserted. Many of the saplings planted by Mr. Kumar in Bettiah as well as in Nepal have grown into healthy plants. Mr. Kumar asserted that due to financial problems, he even used to withdraw the PF to do the plantation in the initial days. Now his children also motivate their friends to do plantations to increase the greenery. Sunil Kumar, Minister, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will honour him at the function organised by Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB).
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Throwaway culture' & plastic dependency a growing concern
Guwahati: "Beat Plastic Pollution" is the theme of World Environment Day this year, but the reality remains that life without plastic is nearly unimaginable. From the toothbrush to the mug and bucket in the bathroom to the dining table, people have become dependent on plastic products due to several factors, despite the adverse effects on health and the environment. Historically, Assamese households relied on bell-metal dishes and bowls for daily use. While these traditional items are still in use, their prevalence has declined, replaced by steel and plastic alternatives. Malati Kalita, a sexagenarian homemaker from Geetanagar in Guwahati, recalled how her childhood was free from plastic products. "We hardly used plastic products from 1960s to 80s. However, we saw the change in the market with the flooding of plastic products over the decades and, accordingly, the change in the lives of the people," she added. The dependency on plastic products is primarily driven by their unique properties and economic advantages, she added. A city-based environmentalist, on condition of anonymity, said, "This dependency is observed globally, and as highlighted in the prompt, it has significantly impacted traditional practices, particularly in regions like Assam. Plastic products are cost-effective, lightweight, and durable, which is why they have become a part and parcel of human life." The rise of a "throwaway culture" has further fuelled plastic consumption, the environmentalist added. Single-use plastics — such as disposable cutlery, straws, bags, and food packaging — offer convenience, eliminating the need for reusable alternatives. "Moreover, plastic is indispensable for packaging due to its ability to preserve food, maintain hygiene, and extend shelf life. Rapid urbanisation and rising disposable incomes lead to increased demand for packaged products and convenience items, many of which are made from plastic," the environmentalist said. Muskan Thapa, who advocates for minimal plastic use, said it is not possible to eliminate plastic products entirely from human life, but their use can be minimised. "Instead of buying plastic-packaged drinking water and discarding the bottle, we can carry a steel bottle," she added. "Even polythene has replaced traditional bags for shopping. This has impacted both practical and environmental situations. Plastic waste pollutes the water bodies and poses threats to aquatic life as those products are non-biodegradable," she added. However, she believes responsible use of plastic products can help in protecting the environment and the lives of all living beings.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh sees significant forest loss and tree cover changes in 2024: Report
Vijayawada: As the Andhra Pradesh govt gears up to plant one crore saplings under the 'Vanam-Manam' programme to enhance green cover on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, the state reported 468 hectares of primary forest loss in 2024, the second highest after 561 hectares of primary forest loss eported in 2017. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Andhra Pradesh lost a total of 6,550 hectares of primary forest cover between 2002 and 2024, making up 16% of the total tree cover loss during the same period, according to the latest Global Forest Watch (GFW) report. Subsequently, in another disturbing development, Andhra Pradesh lost 5.73 thousand hectares of natural forest last year, which is equivalent to 1.75 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. As of 2020, the state had 2.46 million hectares of natural forest, extending over 15% of the total land mass, the report mentioned. According to the GFW report, Andhra Pradesh stood in the 13th place out of 28 states and eight union territories in terms of tree cover loss between 2001 and 2024, losing trees to an extent of nearly 42.4 thousand hectares. Meanwhile, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur, the four north-east states, were responsible for 52% of all tree cover loss during the same period. In terms of tree cover loss, which is about 42.4 thousand hectares, this is equivalent to a 3.8% decrease in tree cover since 2000 and 23.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. As per the GFW data, Andhra Pradesh lost 2.87 thousand hectares of tree cover in 2024 and 2.96 thousand hectares in 2023, i.e., 0.26% and 0.27% of tree cover loss. Andhra Pradesh reported the highest tree cover loss of 3.26 thousand hectares in 2011. Further, East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts were responsible for 76% of the total tree cover loss that occurred between 2001 and 2024 in the state. East Godavari witnessed the highest tree cover loss at 16.4 thousand hectares compared to an average of 3.26 thousand hectares. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It was further found that 66% of tree cover loss occurred in areas where the dominant driver is deforestation. For permanent agriculture, a record 26.8 thousand hectares of tree cover was axed, while another 214 hectares of tree cover was lost due to infrastructure and settlements, and another 23 hectares for hard commodities. However, Andhra Pradesh made significant strides in tree cover gain between 2002 and 2020 by gaining 194 thousand hectares of tree cover, which is equal to 11% of the overall tree cover gain in the country. Under the tree cover gain charts, Karnataka leads in first place with 222 thousand hectares of tree cover gain, with Andhra Pradesh in second place.
