Drop what you are doing… The World Environment Day Challenge is back!

UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors Gisele Bündchen, Don Cheadle, Ian Somerhalder and Yaya Touré are sending an SOS to the world on behalf of Small Island Developing States

Watch Video

Drop what you are doing… The World Environment Day Challenge is back!

UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors Gisele Bündchen, Don Cheadle, Ian Somerhalder and Yaya Touré are sending an SOS to the world on behalf of Small Island Developing States

Watch Video

Drop what you are doing… The World Environment Day Challenge is back!

UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors Gisele Bündchen, Don Cheadle, Ian Somerhalder and Yaya Touré are sending an SOS to the world on behalf of Small Island Developing States

Watch Video

Step Up to the WED Challenge by 5 June!

Join UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors Gisele Bündchen, Don Cheadle, Ian Somerhalder and Yaya Touré in sending an SOS to the world on behalf of Small Island Developing States. Five selected members of the team with the most pledges by 5 June will get WED posters autographed by the Goodwill Ambassador leading the winning team!

Watch Video

Drop what you are doing… The World Environment Day Challenge is back!

UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors Gisele Bündchen, Don Cheadle, Ian Somerhalder and Yaya Touré are sending an SOS to the world on behalf of Small Island Developing States

Watch Video

Solar Power Leader Barbados to Host World Environment Day 2014

Barbados, a Caribbean island at the cutting edge of the fight against climate change, will host this year's World Environment Day (WED) global celebrations on 5 June 2014

Climate Change: A Challenge For Our Times

A Blog for Huffington Post by Ian Somerhalder

We are but two short weeks away from the UN's global World Environment Day celebrations on the 5th of June. This year, the theme focuses on the impacts of climate change on Small Island Developing States

World Environment Day Booklet

Whether it is to organize clean-up campaigns, walk-to-work days, plastic purges, art exhibits, tree-planting drives, concerts, dance recitals, switching off the lights, recycling drives, social media campaigns and different contests — every action counts.

Message from Darren O' Day of the Baltimore Orioles: Raise Your Voice for WED. Step Up to the Challenge!

Prepare for the WED Tweetathon today!

Last year, World Environment Day was one of the top 10 most tweeted topics on the Twitterverse. This year, make your voice heard together with the millions who will show their solidarity for the islands, climate change and the environment.

UNFCCC Focuses on Youth Activities in SIDS for WED

The UNFCCC secretariat joins this year's celebrations of World Environment Day on 5 June by focusing on the most vulnerable group living in the most vulnerable places in the world – youth from SIDS.

Community Forum to be Held in Sarasota

An upcoming free community forum will cap off the celebration of World Environment Day in Sarasota County, long known for the sustainable practices of its residents, local government, organizations and businesses.

WED in Barbados Begins

The 2014 World Environment Week has officially started in Barbados. Only days ahead of World Environment Day (WED, 5 June) a religious service was offered on 1 June 2014 in observance of WED and in recognition of the 20th Anniversary of the First Conference of Small Island Development States, held in Barbados.

Spotlight on Small Islands as WED Celebrations Kick off in Barbados

The world's attention turned to the Caribbean on 1 June, as week-long World Environment Day celebrations kicked off with a religious service, which was offered in observance of WED and in recognition of the 20th Anniversary of the First Conference of Small Island Development States.

Schoolchildren in Barbados Show WED Support By Planting Trees

GoodPlanet Launches a Campaign to Conserve the Ocean for WED 2014

To mark World Environment Day, Yann Arthus-Bertrand's GoodPlanet Foundation launches an international campaign to conserve the ocean.

Day 2 in Barbados: Solar Electricity Roofs Programme Launched

Energy Minister Senator Darcy Boyce this morning flicked the switch at a beach facility operated by the National Conservation Commission to signal the launch of the Government’s solar electricity roofs programme.

Kosovo Comes Together for World Environment Day

In Kosovo, the UN has launched the “Green Steps” project. The goal is not just to clean up Kosovo – but to keep it that way through new preventative measures. UN staff also joined 45,000 people, who participated in a cleanup campaign throughout Kosovo.

Trinidad Fit for Change

Sustainable Energy for All by 2030: An enormous challenge yet a tremendous opportunity. Many good initiatives have been taken. We need to scale them up. Discover how Trinidad and Tobago, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), is taking action towards renewable energy.

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Saving Beaches in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, WED is all about preserving the country’s beautiful beaches from plastic pollution.

WED 2014 in Barbados

Ministers Convene in Private Sector Forum Focusing on Clean Technology and Investment

Today marks World Environment Day, the largest day of global action on the planet

And it is indeed a pleasure to celebrate this landmark event, here, in the historic city of Bridgetown – the global capital of this year’s WED.

Actor and Environmentalist Ian Somerhalder Designated as UNEP Goodwill Ambassador on World Environment Day

Bridgetown, Barbados, 5 June 2014 – Ian Somerhalder – an actor best known for his work on the Warner Brothers international hit TV Series, “The Vampire Diaries,” and on the ABC critically acclaimed drama “Lost” – was designated as a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador today in Bridgetown...

Sea-Level Rise in Small Island Nations - Up to Four Times the Global Average - to Cost US$ Trillions in Annual Economic Loss and Impede Future Development: Shift to Green Policies and Investment Critical

Go Greener Wins

New Goodwill Ambassador Ian’s team has won with his call to Go Greener! Thousands have pledged action in response to the SOS for Small Island Developing States raised by UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors Don Cheadle, Gisele Bündchen, Yaya Touré and Ian Somerhalder.

WED in Barbados Closing Ceremonies

Day 5 – World Environment Day in Barbados was capped off by closing ceremonies held at Conset Bay.

WED 2014 in Barbados: Press Conference

Earth is beautiful from every angle! Together let's preserve it. Raise your voice for the Blue Dot! #WED2014

Vibrant Celebrations for World Environment Day Conclude Around the World

Bridgetown, Barbados, 6 June 2014 - A week of cultural events, arts showcases and high-level political engagement wrapped up today on the island nation of Barbados, the host of the 2014 World Environment Day (WED) global celebrations, and around the world.

Happy World Environment Day!

Ian Somerhalder, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador

World Environment Day!

Global Ceremony 2014

Click here to watch Full Video

Scaling the #WEDChallenge

blog by Fatin Chowdhury,
2014 World Environment Day (WED) Video-Blogging Competition Winner

Athletes Go Green for World Environment Day 2014

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Movement at large consider environmental responsibility as an integral part of Olympism, along with sport and culture

From the Mountains to the Sea: investing in Haiti’s environmental resources - a cause for optimism

Executive Director visited Haiti at the invitation of President Martelly to celebrate World Environment Day and to profile the country’s ecological potential as key elements for future growth and resilience.

Light show marks World Environment Day in Chile

Images of flora and fauna were projected onto the exteriors of Chile's presidential palace Thursday night in celebration of World Environment Day.

Recycling in Antarctica? Yes!

Green Technologies & Behavior at Concordia Station.

WED in Afghanistan: Afghan Mountain Areas as Ecological Islands

UNEP and Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) hosted a week of World Environment Day (WED) festivities to raise awareness on the impacts of climate change in both rural and urban settings in the country.

WED 2014: Raise Your Voice for Sudan’s Environment

This year’s WED celebrations in Darfur and Khartoum integrate all issues related to Sudan’s environment, ranging from waste management to climate change adaption to forestry and livelihoods.

Bahrain Celebrates Islands

Bahrain has joined the other nations in marking WED. UNEP held a ceremony at the Bahrain City Centre in partnership with the Supreme Council for the Environment and sponsored by the business sector, namely the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC).

WED 2014 in Nairobi, Kenya

In Kenya, over 600 kids celebrated WED 2014 in a special soccer tournament based on this year's theme, Raise Your Voice- Not the Sea Level. The tournament was held for the first time at UNEP headquarters and brought together 24 teams from schools in and around Nairobi...

Painting for the Planet

In Delicias, Mexico, WED was marked by a children´s painting competition. The aim of the contest was to show the challenges that everyone faces and the need to work together towards a sustainable life for the planet.

Small Islands Lay Out Priorities Ahead of Lima

At the closing of the latest round of international climate talks in Bonn, Germany on 14 June 2014, Ambassador Marlene Moses, Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), a group of 44 low-lying and coastal countries...

Small Islanders Become Climate Refugees as Sea Levels Rise

Early in 2014, the Fijian village of Vunidogoloa was reported to be the first to be relocated under the small island nation's "climate change refugee" programme, according to the Fiji Times.

In Seoul, WED Celebrated in Eco-Friendly Fest

UNEP Korea and UNEP Tunza ICC organized a festival on 7 June 2014 when thousands gathered at Yoido Plaza in Seoul.

Every Day is WED at GM Facilities Around the Globe

More than 219,000 General Motors employees worldwide are being empowered to make a difference by improving the health of the planet every day through simple actions in their communities or homes.

Support Seafarers Today

The ​International Maritime Organization (IMO) celebrates the fourth edition of its global campaign: Day of the Seafarer, held every year on 25 June. Seafarers are the people without whom food, clothes, gifts, gadgets or even basic needs would not reach our doors.

The Journey Continues: An Update on Hōkūle‘a

For the first time in 14 years, Hōkūleʻa returned to Papeʻete, the landfall for her maiden voyage from Hawaiʻi in 1976 where 17,000 Tahitians welcomed her.

Islands Photo Call

Selected images from the #islands2014 photo call will be displayed at UN Headquarters in New York before traveling all the way to Samoa to be shown at the Conference of Small Island Developing States in September.

Call for Partnerships Issued in Preparation for the Third International Conference on SIDS to be held from 1 to 4 September 2014 in Apia, Samoa

UN Global Compact Companies in Brazil Renew Commitment to Go Green

Global Compact Brazilian Network organizations showed their commitment to sustainability as they commemorated WED 2014.

Sustainable Tourism

In a report on tourism in SIDS released prior to Rio+20, titled Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism in Small Island Developing States, UNWTO finds that the number of international tourists visiting SIDS reached 41 million in 2011.

Beach Cleaning on World Environment Day - The Scream from Nature in South of Norway

300 pupils cleaned several beaches in the South of Norway. 120 bags of garbage were removed.

Kenyan Motocross Riders Raise Their Voices for Planet Earth

Kenyan motocross riders and their families celebrated WED at the Jamhuri Motocross Circuit on 22 June 2014.

UNFCCC to Award Fellowships to Young SIDS Professionals

To celebrate the International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) 2014, the UNFCCC secretariat is offering 2 five-month fellowships to young professionals from the region

Burn Fat not Fuel

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) organized several activities to celebrate WED 2014 at its headquarters in Naqoura, encouraging staff to "Burn Fat not Fuel".

Building Economies that are Green and Circular: What Can We Learn from SIDS?

By Steven Stone
Chief, Economics and Trade Branch (UNEP)

What is Happening in Samoa and Why Does it Matter

World Environment Day exhibit on SIDS at the UN Headquarters in New York - June 2014

The Issue of Marine Debris in Small Island Developing States

Some of the Earth’s most beautiful tropical paradises are being disfigured by the by-products of our modern society: marine debris.

UNEP Patron for Oceans, Lewis Pugh is swimming the Seven Seas to urge policy makers to protect the world's seas.

Youth Voices: Small and vulnerable but NOT weak

Read the blog by Angelique Pouponneau, a 24 years old lawyer from Seychelles who is committed to youth empowerment and development

Island Voices, Global Choices

Wu Hongbo
United Nations Under- Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States

Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States Opens in Samoa

Apia, Samoa, 1 September 2014 - Heads of State, policymakers, business leaders and representatives from civil society have gathered in Apia, Samoa, to pledge their support for small island developing states

Help Small Island States Win Their Battle Against Climate Change

Op-Ed by UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner, in The Guardian

Earth’s fate is inextricably linked to 52 nations threatened by rising sea levels – the rest of the world should not let them drown

Building Capacity for Coastal Ecosystem-Based Adaptation in Small Islands Developing States

Tropical coastal ecosystems provide essential ecosystem services for over 500 million people worldwide. They support many of the world's poorest communities that rely on mangrove and reef-based fisheries and tourism revenue for food security and livelihoods.