World Environment Day, 2018: India is the global host this year and the theme is Beat Plastic Pollution. (Source : Cuba Gallery/ Flickr) World Environment Day, 2018: India is the global host this year and the theme is Beat Plastic Pollution. (Source : Cuba Gallery/ Flickr) Environment might be one of the the most important treasures we have, but human beings do end up treating it recklessly. In order to raise awareness about protecting it, every year June 5 is celebrated as World Environment Day as has been designated by the United Nations (UN). The day also enables one to be more responsible in the way they conduct themselves and treat the environment. India is the global host this year and the theme is Beat Plastic Pollution. It started in 1974 and since then the day has provided a global platform for like-minded people to reach out to each other. Ahead of the big day, we bring to you all that is buzzing around the globe.<doc-sep>World Environment Day 2018: People across the world have come together, even transcending borders, to spread awareness about ways of living that are environment-friendly. (Source: PTI) World Environment Day 2018: People across the world have come together, even transcending borders, to spread awareness about ways of living that are environment-friendly. (Source: PTI) In an effort towards ensuring a secure and sustainable present and future, the United Nations has been commemorating June 5 as World Environment Day starting 1974. People across the world, ever since then, have come together, even transcending borders, to spread awareness about ways of living that are environment-friendly. This year, the theme of the celebrations is Beat Plastic Pollution, highlighting how it is the need of the hour to ensure plastic is not used anymore. Not just is plastic non-biodegradable, it also proves fatal for the animals and birds on the planet. That a whale in Thailand reportedly died recently after swallowing 80 plastic bags is just the tip of the iceberg that we all can probably fathom. A quick look through the Internet showed how many have their hearts in the right place. While mobilising their friends, family members, colleagues, etc., to ensure plastic is not used, many also shared pictures of their efforts towards making the earth a better place to live in. ALSO READ | World Environment Day 2018: Here’s all the buzz around the world, ahead of the big day Here are some of the #WorldEnvironmentDay messages doing the rounds of the micro-blogging site. Don’t cry over the past, it’s gone. Don’t stress about the future, it hasn’t arrived. Live in the present and make it beautiful! This #WorldEnvironmentDay, let us all make the change. Stop littering and say goodbye to single-use plastic! Together we can #BeatPlasticPollution! pic.twitter.com/SJ6XcJDD5v — World Wildlife Day (@WildlifeDay) June 4, 2018 My Biggest Sand Turtle, 50ft long & 30ft wide with installation of plastic bottles at Puri beach in Odisha with message #BeatPlasticPollution for #WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/EQqT8DaJ3v — Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 4, 2018 Harmony with environment is the need of the hour. With discord, we will soon be left with nothing in our hands#WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/uZmtuFJJJP — Ugliefuglie (@scaryeyes33) June 5, 2018 I think instead of #WorldEnvironmentDay let’s rename it as #WorldSurvivalDay. May be then we’ll realise we are on the brink of our carelessness & greed-infused disasters. Just look at water crisis in Shimla. — Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) June 5, 2018 Happy World Environment Day ! ! Save Nature.. Save Earth.. Save Yourself..#WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/Dmr7cYzrcN — Ashutosh Shinde (@ShindeAshutosh) June 5, 2018 #World Environment Day Let’s say our mother nature pic.twitter.com/Uy15agzRjv — Pics ‘You’ Must See (@RealTouchingPic) June 5, 2018 “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now” Save Planet, Save Ourselves. #Plantforplanet#WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/PLbNwDa27D — సుష్మ 🐧🦋🌸 (@_Fury_at_times) June 5, 2018 This is where we live, why are we hurting our home ! Live on our earth, love our earth, laugh on our earth, This is the only on we have…, Save it!! ! Happy World Environment Day 😊#EarthTee #WorldEnvironmentDay⁠ ⁠ pic.twitter.com/fGuHfcjvUF — Aarohanam Society (@askAarohanam) June 5, 2018 “On World Environment Day, the message is simple: reject single-use plastic. Refuse what you can’t re-use. Together, we can chart a path to a cleaner, greener world.”#WorldEnvironmentDay #BeatPlasticPollution pic.twitter.com/wH5rfAtTpx — Neha Mecwan (@inehamecwan) June 5, 2018 Wow! https://images.indianexpress.com/2020/08/1x1.png What a Message on a Day like Today! ;’World Environment Day’ May this reach every single human being alive on Earth!#WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/DZbjEhZY2n — Hezbon Mureithi® (@HezMureithi) June 5, 2018 Today June 5th is World Environment Day ! 2018 Theme “Moving towards a plastic-free future” #LKA #SriLanka ranked 5th out of 20 countries identified for dumping Polythene and Plastic to the oceans. #GOGREEN #WorldEnvironmentDay Lets Plant Trees 🌲🌴!#PlasticFreeDay #OnThisDay pic.twitter.com/PevS0mrtpr — Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) June 5, 2018 What’s your pledge on this World Environment Day? Let us know in the comments’ section below.<doc-sep>Representative Image June 5 marks the World Environment Day, and it is indeed a proud moment for us as India will be hosting the global event today. The theme is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, urging citizens to stop single-use plastic and replace with something sustainable. So, here are some small changes that we can make in our daily life to do our part for the welfare of our environment: 1. Say no to plastic bags while shopping. Small changes can lead to big achievements. Daily use of plastic bags by millions of Indians leads to a large amount of discarded waste. Using a cloth/paper bag while shopping is a small change that an individual can begin with to contribute in caring for the environment. 2. Conserve Energy whenever you can. Don't forget to switch off your lights, fan and other electronic appliances when not in use. 3. Harness rainwater for minor activities like watering your plant. You can achieve two goals in one move - first, conserve water and avoid its wastage; second, if implemented properly you can get rid of the effort to water your plants. 4. Keep your taps closed when not in use. We often have the habit of keeping our taps open while doing daily activities like brushing teeth or washing clothes. The amount was water wasted doing this is unmeasurable. So, it is highly advised to close taps while brushing teeth and other such activities. 5. Using office facilities judiciously. Making small changes like printing on two sides of the paper, turning off electrical appliances when not in use can go a long way. One can also start a small office recycling program to engage more people in this activity. 6. You can get up and make the day count. Do some activity for your environment, clean your neighbourhood, give lessons about environment's importance to the younger generation or simply support those who are doing some work for the environment in any way you can. 7. Spread the word about today's importance through social media. 8. And lastly, but most importantly, plant a tree and take a pledge to take care of it till it exists. This is also the International Year of Forests so why not celebrate by planting a tree.<doc-sep>World Environment Day 2018 will soon be held worldwide. An event designed to raise awareness of environmental protection issues and implore people around the world to take action to protect the environment, the day will see people from more than 100 countries participating. Notably, this year’s iteration of World Environment Day comes as more and more cities, nations, companies and individuals have moved to phase out one-use plastic materials, a fact reflected in this year’s theme. Reducing pollution from plastic materials will be the theme for World Environment Day 2018 Here’s all you need to know about what World Environment Day is, when it is, who the host city for 2018 is and what the theme for this year is. What is World Environment Day? World Environment Day is an annual event sponsored by the United Nations designed to promote environmental protection awareness and action. After being established in 1972 by the UN General Assembly, the event was first held in 1974 and is held annually on June 5. Much like Earth Day, World Environment Day focuses on raising global awareness for a variety of critical environmental issues and enlisting the public’s support in addressing them, including climate change, clean energy, oceanic pollution, conservation, water pollution and the impact of economic development on the world’s environment. For each annual World Environment Day, a new host city and theme is chosen every year. In recent years, the event has grown in popularity, being observed in 143 countries around the world and garnering support from various celebrities, companies, governments and nongovernment organizations. When is World Environment Day 2018? World Environment Day 2018 will be held on Tuesday, June 5. "A healthy planet is essential for a prosperous and peaceful future" - the key message from @UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres on #WorldEnvironmentDay #BeatPlasticPollution Did you know that microplastics in our seas outnumber stars in our galaxy! pic.twitter.com/HqJajFeP4N — UN Climate Change (@UNFCCC) June 4, 2018 2018 World Environment Day host city The host city of World Environment Day 2018 will be New Deli, India. The city also served as the host of World Environment Day back in 2011. In 2017, Ottawa, Canada served as the host city while Spokane, Washington was chosen as the host city for the inaugural year of World Environment Day in 1974. 2018 World Environment Day theme The theme for World Environment Day 2018 will be ‘Beat Plastic Pollution.’ Plastic pollution has become a hot topic in recent months, with New York City seriously considering banning plastic straws and other cities like Davis and San Luis Obispo, California and Miami Beach and Fort Myers, Florida successfully banning them. Outside of the United States, Vancouver, also took action recent to ban plastic straws while UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced a new plan on April 19 to phase out plastic straws and other single-use plastic material in the United Kingdom, something being seriously considered by a number of other Commonwealth nations. We can all play a part in a better future for our planet. How will you help to clean up the 🌏? Together, we can #BeatPlasticPollution! ℹ️ https://t.co/qQ3PtkvXub #WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/cqcaZcpAdp — UNESCO (@UNESCO) June 4, 2018 Even aside from governments, notable individuals have also taken the initiative to phase out plastic straws and other single-use plastic materials in the name of environmental protection, including Queen Elizabeth II, who banned them from her properties back in February. Private companies and organizations have also enacted plastic straw bans as of late. The All England Lawn Tennis Club recently banned them from the historic Wimbledon tennis tournament in London while even McDonalds’s shareholders seriously considered a plastic straw ban, though it was ultimately rejected.<doc-sep>
Today is World Environment Day - a global platform for raising awareness and taking action on urgent issues from marine pollution and global warming to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime. The day has been celebrated since 1974, and since then it has grown to become a global event spanning over 100 countries. Over the years millions of people have taken part, helping drive change in our consumption habits as well as in national and international environmental policy. Otherwise known as the ‘people’s day’, World Environment Day is your opportunity to take action - whether it’s locally, nationally or globally. Here’s everything you need to know about World Environment Day. (Image: Photographer's Choice) When is World Environment Day? World Environment Day takes place on the 5th of June every year. The first event was held in 1973, and it has grown from strength to strength since. What is this year’s theme? Each year the United Nations chooses a theme for World Environment Day. This year, the theme is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution ’ - a call to action for all of us to come together to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time. (Image: SWNS) The theme invites people to consider how they can make changes in their everyday lives to reduce the burden of plastic pollution on natural places, wildlife, and our own health. Which country is hosting World Environment Day? India is hosting the event for 2018. In a post explaining why India was chosen to host, a spokesperson for the UN said: “Traditionally India has imbibed three R’s – reduce, recycle, reuse – encouraging sustainable living conducive to a healthy environment. (Image: World Environment Day) “As the host nation of World Environment Day, India will revive and impart its traditional knowledge and innovative modern approaches towards a cleaner, greener and plastic-free nation. “As part of its festivities, India is carrying out nationwide plastic cleaning drives of its beaches, national parks, riverbanks, public places and much more, thereby reinforcing its culture of sustainable living.” How can you get involved? There are almost 3,000 events taking place around the world in celebration of World Environment Day. The World Environment Day website lists all the events out on a map, allowing you to search through and see events happening nearby. And if you can’t make any of the events, you can still get involved by simply reducing your plastic use. (Image: World Environment Day) Here are some ways to do this: - Bring your own shopping bags to the supermarket - Pressure food suppliers to use non-plastic packaging - Refuse plastic cutlery - Pick up any plastic you see the next time you go for a walk on the beach If you get involved, make sure you share your photos and stories online using the hashtag #WorldEnvironmentDay.