In 1972, the UN General Assembly designated June 5 as World Environment Day (WED). The year 2022 marks 50 years since the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. The 1972 Stockholm Conference that led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme and designating 5 June every year as World Environment Day.

World Environment Day was developed as a platform to raise awareness on the problems around our environment such as air pollution, plastic pollution, illegal wildlife trade, sea-level increase, and food security, among others. Furthermore, this day helps drive change in consumption patterns and in framing national and international environmental policy. 

This year, the Government of Sweden will host World Environment Day 2022 in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The theme this year is Only One Earth, highlighting the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature by bringing transformative changes – through policies and our choices – towards cleaner, greener lifestyles. 

Only One Earth was the motto for the 1972 Stockholm Conference; even after 50 years, the motto holds true – this planet is our only home, whose finite resources humanity must safeguard.

In addition, in 2022, the Government of Sweden will host Stockholm+50, an international meeting to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Stockholm Conference and to accelerate implementation to deliver on the 2030 Agenda and achieve sustainable recovery from COVID-19. 

Stockholm+50 will provide an opportunity for the international community to strengthen cooperation and show leadership in the transformation towards a more sustainable society, in line with the declaration that was recently adopted in conjunction with the marking of the 75th anniversary of the UN.