World Environment Day, celebrated each year on June 5, was created during the 1972 United Nations (UN) Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden.
Like Earth Day, World Environment Day focuses on "encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment." However, as a UN creation, World Environment Day also brings political attention to a specific "host country" each year to help address the environmental challenges that country faces.
This year's host country is India and, with the theme "Beat Plastic Pollution," they are challenging their citizens and populations around the world to make everyday changes that reduce plastic pollution.
Hop over to the Earth Day 2018 blog (the theme of which was also focused on ending plastic pollution) to learn about the history of plastics, the growing plastic problem, and a list of practical ways to cut your plastic use.
You can participate in World Environment Day by finding an event near you (or creating your own!) that is focused on cleaning up plastic and ending plastic pollution. Be sure to share photos and videos of your event and tag them with #WorldEnvironmentDay or #BeatPlasticPollution to help spread the word about this important day.
Learn more about World Environment Day at worldenvironmentday.global. Or take a look at the World Environment Day Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to see how others around the world are reducing plastic pollution.