Introduction

The World Environment Day (WED), which is commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change'. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests. This year’s host is Mexico which reflects the growing role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the carbon markets.

We would like to share with you the link to the electronic version of WED 2009 posters and booklets to print or use on your websites. If you would like to display the WED 2009 banner on your websites, the script is also provided.

The link is http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english/content/downloads.asp

Also notable on the WED site is the 'Do something Tips' of suggested individual/ personal level actions that can be taken on a daily basis to combat climate change e.g. "When packing your lunch, opt for reusable containers for food storage instead of wrapping the food with aluminum foil or plastic wrap."

For more information on the World Environment Day, kindly visit the website at http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english/