United Nations World Environment Day - 'Connecting People to Nature'

Every year, June 5 is celebrated as World Environment Day and has a new theme. World Environment Day is run by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). It is well known that there is physical and mental health benefits of being in nature, which is the theme of this year’s World Environment Day – ‘Connecting People to Nature’. The United Nations is making big strides in highlighting the benefits from food security, water supply, and climatic stability, which clean environments provide to humanity. Whether it is land, waterways and oceans, forests, or the air we breathe, everyone has a role to play in protecting our world home. Including using less plastic, wasting less food, driving less, and teaching others to care to name a few.

Environmental Day is celebrated to raise global awareness and action for the environment and various environmental issues. This day helps reaffirm actions needed to protect nature and Earth that will lead to a positive and healthy environment for all. It also provides us with the opportunity to think about how we are part of nature and how intimately and indisputably we depend on it for survival. “On World Environment Day, and every day, let us reconnect with nature. Let us cherish the planet that protects us,” concluded Mr. Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations. World Environment Day is the largest global day for positive environmental action. The UN Environment Program (UNEP) says thousands of people across six continents are joining massive clean-ups of beaches and parks, and over 30 iconic landmarks, including the Empire State Building, 'Christ the Redeemer' statue in Rio, and Niagara Falls, will light up in green.

This year’s theme has encouraged people to admire nature and challenges us to take part in protecting our environment. Get outside today, reconnect with Mother Nature, perhaps get your hands dirty, and find fun and exciting ways to experience and cherish this vital relationship we have with our earthly home.