Every year June 5 marks International Environment Day, an occasion to reflect on the environmental challenges we face and the actions we can take to protect and restore nature.

But do you know why this day is celebrated and what is its origin? We tell you in this article.

The origin of World Environment Day

Since then, this day has been celebrated every year with a different theme and a host country that organizes the main events. The theme is chosen based on the most urgent and relevant environmental problems of the moment, and the host country is in charge of spreading the message and initiatives globally.

The theme of 2023: Plastic pollution.

This year, the theme of World Environment Day is **Plastic Pollution**, and the host country is **Côte d'Ivoire**¹. The objective is to raise awareness about the problem of plastics that damage ecosystems and human health, and promote solutions based on science, innovation and participation¹³. Are you interested in this topic? What actions do you take to reduce your plastic consumption?

In addition, this year is the third year of the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), an initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Program Organization for the Environment (UNEP), and with which UNESCO is closely associated⁶.

The objective of the Decade is to mobilize governments, companies, organizations and citizens to promote concrete actions that contribute to restoring at least 1,000 million hectares of degraded lands worldwide, which is equivalent to the area of ​​China. It is estimated that this action could generate up to 9 trillion dollars in ecological, social and economic benefits, and avoid the emission of some 26 gigatonnes of greenhouse gases⁶.

What can you do to celebrate this day?

There are many ways to participate in World Environment Day and contribute to the restoration of ecosystems. Here are some ideas:

- Find out about the state of ecosystems in your area and in the world, and share what you learn with your family, friends and social networks. You can check the resources offered by the UN on its official website¹.

- Join an initiative or event organized by your community, your school or your work to clean, plant or take care of a natural space. You can also organize your own activity with other interested people.

- Reduce your consumption of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials that pollute terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Opt for reusable, recyclable, or compostable alternatives whenever you can.

- Support local or international organizations that work for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. You can do it with your time, your money or your spread.

- Commit to adopting more sustainable habits in your daily life, such as saving water and electricity and other resources.

But if these actions seem "too heavy" or difficult to do, there is another more comfortable alternative that can be done even from bed: Read books. Here I leave you some readings that can help raise awareness about caring for the environment. There are many books that are recommended to make people aware of the importance of the environment. Some of them are¹²³⁴:

- The green mist , by Gonzalo Giner. A novel that narrates the adventures of a young Congolese woman who fights for the conservation of the African jungle and its inhabitants, facing the threat of corruption and exploitation.

- The Book of Hope , by Jane Goodall and Doug Abrams. A book that collects the wisdom and experience of the famous primatologist and environmental activist, who invites us to find the strength and motivation to face the climate crisis with optimism and action.

- The Inhospitable Planet , by David Wallace-Wells. A book that exposes the most extreme and devastating scenarios of climate change, based on the latest scientific data, in order to warn about the urgency of acting before it is too late.

- The Sixth Extinction , by Elizabeth Kolbert. A book that analyzes how the human being is causing the massive disappearance of animal and plant species, and how this affects the ecological balance and our own survival.

These are just a few examples of environmental books that can help raise awareness and sensitivity to this vital issue. Have you read any of them? What did you think?