[1][2] First held in 1974, it has been a platform for raising awareness on environmental issues as marine pollution, overpopulation, global warming, sustainable development and wildlife crime.

[3] World Environment Day is a global platform for public outreach, with participation from over 143 countries annually, incl.

participation from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and the United States.

[citation needed] Every year, the program has provided a theme and forum for businesses, non government organizations, communities, politicians and stars to advocate environmental causes.

Here is a timeline of key accomplishments in WEDs' history: The theme for the 2005 World Environment Day was "Green Cities" and the slogan was "Plant for the Planet!".

[20] The host for World Environment Day 2008 was New Zealand, with the main international celebrations scheduled for Wellington.

New Zealand was one of the first countries to pledge to achieve carbon-neutrality, and will also focus on forest management as a tool for reducing greenhouse gases.

[21] The Chicago Botanic Garden served as the North American host[22] for World Environment Day on 5 June 2008.

Thousands of activities were organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more.

Thousands of activities were organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events, tree plantings[27] and much more.

[28] The theme aimed to invite people to examine their activities and lifestyle and see how the concept of a "Green Economy" fits into it.

[32] The Slogan of the WED 2014 is "Raise your voice not the sea level", as Barbados hosted the global celebrations of the 42nd edition of the World Environment Day.

[33][34] The UN Environment Programme named actor Ian Somerhalder as the official Goodwill ambassador of the WED 2014.

[46] By choosing this theme, it is hoped that people may strive to change their everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution.

[49] In Réunion Island, Miss Earth 2018 Nguyễn Phương Khánh from Vietnam delivered her speech during World Environment Day with the theme "How to fight global warming".

Since it is part of the Amazon rainforest, Colombia ranks first in bird and orchid species diversity and second in plants, butterflies, freshwater fish, and amphibians.