• English
• Francais
• Espanol

• UNDP Home

• Skip to main content
• Home
• Human Development
• Reports
• Statistics
• NHDR Workspace
• Media Centre
• Countries
• Search

World Environment Day

Mexico City, Mexico
5 June 2009

World Environment Day is the principle vehicle through which the UN system stimulates world-wide public awareness on environmental issues and enhances political action. This year‘s theme is "Your planet needs you: U.Nite to combat climate change".

The theme reflects the urgency for nations to reach a new agreement at Copenhagen in December, which world leaders specifically mentioned in their closing statement at the G20 Summit as an imperative to addressing the global financial crisis.

The day's agenda is to:

1. Give a human face to environmental issues;
2. Empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development;
3. Promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues;
4. Advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

This year Mexico is the host country, reflecting the Mexican government’s growing role in the Latin American region to fight climate change, its growing participation in the carbon markets and its commitment to both accelerate human development and achieve environmental sustainability.

In addition to helping launch World Environment Day on 5 June, UNDP Mexico, in partnership with the UN Country Team in Mexico and the Government, is planning a week-long celebration with a series of academic and cultural events in 5 Mexican cities, each representing a unique ecosystem of Mexico (1-5 June 2009). UNDP Mexico has also prepared, with support from the Environment and Energy Group (EEG) and Human Development Report Office (HDRO), an interactive exhibition on Mexico and climate change whose materials will be shared electronically, once finalized.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon states that the WED celebration will “further underline Mexico's determination to manage natural resources and deal with the most demanding challenge of the 21st century – climate change.”

Return to the list <<<<<