The year 1972 marked a turning point in the development of international environmental politics: the first major conference on environmental issues, convened under the auspices of the United Nations, was held from June 5-16 in Stockholm (Sweden), known as the Conference on the Human Environment, or the Stockholm Conference. Its goal was to forge a basic common outlook on how to address the challenge of preserving and enhancing the human environment.Since the first celebration in 1974, World Environment Day on June 05 has helped UNEP to raise awareness and generate political momentum around growing concerns, such as the depletion of the ozone layer, toxic chemicals, desertification and global warming. The Environment Day has developed into a global platform for taking action on urgent environmental issues. Millions of people have taken part over the years, helping drive change in our concern for protecting environment. The day serves as a reminder for all of us to protect the environment at all costs.

Theme of World Environment Day 2024: "Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience"