World Environment Day 2021: Theme, Quotes, History, Significance

World Environment Day is celebrated on 05 June every year. It is one of the most celebrated international annual observances. Every year many events are organized on 05 June to highlight the importance of the environment and emphasize the issues related to it. This day is observed across more than 140 countries.

The United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) is the official annual organizer of events held on this day worldwide. Being the leading authority on the environment, UNEP strongly advocates for global environmental sustainability.

Quick Facts about the World Environment Day

• Observed on: June 05
• Importance: Awareness on environment-related Issues
• Periodicity: Annual
• Category: International
• Start Year: 1974
• Formal Name: United Nations World Environment Day
• Other Names: Environment Day or Eco Day

Background of the World Environment Day

The United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held in 1972, was a turning point in the history of advocacy of the global environment. The conference is also known as the Stockholm Conference.

Among other things, the 1972 Stockholm Conference also paved the way for the establishment of World Environment Day. Establishment of this observance as a result of a discussion held on the integration of human interactions and the environment.

The first official World Environment Day was observed in 1974 and the theme was Only One Earth. Since the very first year, this observance has gained worldwide recognition and it continues to serve as the flagship campaign on emerging environment-related issues as well as environmental sustainability.

Theme of World Environment Day 2021

A specific theme is chosen for the observance of World Environment Day every year. The theme of World Environment Day 2021 is “Ecosystem Restoration”. The day will also witness the launch of UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Recovering the destroyed and damaged ecosystem and conserving the intact ecosystem are two integral aspects of the ecosystem restoration process.

Generation Restoration Movement 2021

You can also join the global #GenerationRestoration movement to mark this day.

There are three effective steps to join the movement:

• Take actions
• Make smart choices
• Raise your voice for restoration

Recent Previous Years’ Themes of World Environment Day

• 2020: Time for Nature
• 2019: Beat Air pollution
• 2018: Beat Plastic Pollution
• 2017: Connecting People to Nature – in the city and on the land, from the poles to the equator
• 2016: Go wild for life

Host Country

A host country is chosen every year for the official observance of this day. The host country of World Environment Day 2021 is Pakistan. In 2020, the host country was Colombia.

A Few Thought-Provoking Quotes on Environment

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed” ― Mahatma Gandhi

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

“What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” ― Henry David Thoreau

“Sooner or later, we will have to recognize that the Earth has rights, too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans.” – Evo Morales

“One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken.” —Leo Tolstoy