World Environment Day

Canada hosts the World Environment Day celebrations today succeeding 2016 host Angola. Canada has chosen the theme “Connecting People to Nature” for 2017, which invites people to enjoy the outdoors and to take forward the call to protect the Earth that we share.

In a statement issued today, Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said:

“World Environment Day reminds us that we have a global responsibility to safeguard our environment – and that each of us has a role to play to preserve and protect it. More than ever, Canada is committed to provide international leadership to fight climate change and support clean economic growth. We will continue to work with our domestic and international partners to drive progress on the environmental challenges we face as a global community.

“Canada has taken strong steps to protect the environment and promote clean economic growth. We adopted the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, launched the Oceans Protection Plan, and continue to support developing countries in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Despite this progress, we have much more work to do. Our Government is committed to work with people around the world and at home, including young people and Indigenous Peoples, to find concrete, effective solutions to environmental issues.

“Today, I ask all Canadians and everyone around the world to remember we share one planet. Climate change does not recognize borders, and few challenges have ever been so global in scale. Our children’s future depends on our immediate and collective response.”

Around the World

Countries around the world will host events and introduce initiatives to celebrate the largest annual event for positive environmental action.

This year the citizens of Mumbai, India are taking part in a mass beach clean-up, while Canada is offering free entry to its national parks and marine conservation areas.

To get involved you can join the global album by sharing a photo or video of your favourite place in nature using #WorldEnvironmentDay or #WithNature.

You can also join over 1,000 events taking place across the globe, or even organize your own.

What is World Environment Day?

World Environment Day – which is observed on 5 June every year across the globe – is the largest annual event for positive environmental action.

World Environment Day was inaugurated in 1972 following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden on 5-16 June – the first international conference on environmental issues.

Since its first celebration on 5 June 1974, millions of people across the world have taken part in thousands of events to raise awareness and generate political momentum around growing concerns such as the depletion of the ozone layer, toxic chemicals, desertification and global warming.

Events range from neighbourhood clean-ups, to action against wildlife crime, to replanting forests.

The Day has developed into a global platform for taking action on urgent environmental issues, driving change in our consumption habits as well as influencing national and international policy.

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Manning Environmental Law is a Canadian law firm based in Toronto, Ontario. Our practice is focussed on environmental law, energy law and aboriginal law. 

Paul Manning is a certified specialist in environmental law. He has been named as one of the World’s Leading Environmental Lawyers by Who’s Who Legal: 2016.

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