About World Environment Day

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Happy World Environment Day

100 wishes · 6 photo designs · Updated October 2026

About World Environment Day

World Environment Day is marked on 5 June every year. The United Nations began it in 1973, and each year it has a theme, such as beating plastic pollution or restoring land.

Schools, offices and neighbourhoods plant saplings, clean lakes and beaches, and pledge to use less plastic. In India the day comes just before the monsoon, a good time for planting.

Messages for the day encourage simple habits that add up: a cloth bag, a reusable bottle, a tree planted and cared for.

5 June every year
First held in 1974
A new host country each year

Where it began

The day was set up at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972. This was the first big world meeting about the environment.

The United Nations Environment Programme was also born from that meeting, and it leads the day.

The first World Environment Day was held in 1974 with the theme Only One Earth.

Volunteers kneeling to plant young trees on a dry hillside — Volunteers plant trees on a dry hillside

How it grew over time

1972
The Stockholm conference opens on 5 June, and the date later becomes the day.
1974
The first World Environment Day is held, with the theme Only One Earth.
1987
A host country is chosen each year to lead events.
Today
Millions take part, with themes such as plastic, forests, land and clean air.

How it is celebrated in different places

India
Schools and offices plant trees and run clean-ups. India has hosted the day more than once.
Africa
Communities plant trees and care for land, lakes and wild animals.
Around the world
Beach clean-ups, tree planting and talks happen in many cities on the day.