The World Environment Day, celebrated every year on June 5, is the United Nation’s (UN) primary channel that encourages worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. The campaign was first held in 1974 with the theme “Only One Earth”. It has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution, human overpopulation, and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.
It has grown to become a global platform for public outreach, with participation and celebration in over 100 countries. Each year, it has a new theme that governments, corporations, communities, NGOs, and celebrities adopt to advocate environmental causes.
The campaign each year is organized around a theme that draws attention to a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme for 2019 is “Air pollution”. Every year a different country hosts the event where the official celebrations take place. The focus on the host country helps highlight the environmental challenges it faces and supports worldwide efforts to address them. This year’s host is China.
According to the UN, climate change is the major cause of the decline of Andean glaciers and air pollution adds to it. Reducing wildfires and emissions from industries and agriculture can help save these giant water reservoirs, said the UN.
Actions You Can Take to Reduce Air Pollution
Follow these Tips Every Day to Reduce Pollution:
- Conserve energy – at home, at work, everywhere.
- Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying home or office equipment.
- Carpool, use public transportation, bike, or walk whenever possible.
- Follow gasoline refueling instructions for efficient vapor recovery, being careful not to spill fuel and always tightening your gas cap securely.
- Consider purchasing portable gasoline containers labeled “spill-proof,” where available.
- Keep car, boat, and other engines properly tuned.
- Be sure your tires are properly inflated.
- Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning products whenever possible.
- Mulch or compost leaves and yard waste.
- Consider using gas logs instead of wood.