About World Environment Day

The United Nations launched World Environment Day (WED) to stimulate awareness of the environment, garner political attention, and increase public action. This international event takes place every year on or about June 5th, and in past years cities such as Barcelona, Tokyo, and Moscow have served as the primary hosts. Festivities, however are not limited to the host country alone. Celebrations are simultaneously held all over the world. Plans are now underway to host Egypt’s 2010 WED event in Cairo.

The day’s goals is to give a human face to environmental concerns; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable growth; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environment; and advocate partnership, which will help all nations and people enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

WESC took the initiative to launch WED in Egypt starting from 2005, where the held an environmental fair at their premises featuring a musical concert on their solar powered stage. The next year it was held in Sawy Culture Wheel and onwards, the event was held in Azhar Park. The initial organization of the event WED day is solely the initiative of WESC. Before this initiative, never did Egypt celebrate the WED day in an organized and community based participative way.

World Environment Day 2006: Deserts and Desertification

Wadi Environmental Science Centre hosted Egypt’s World Environment Day under the Theme “Deserts and Desertification” on Saturday, 3^rd of June. Festivities were held at Sawy Culture Wheel and ran from approximately 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Through the event they wanted to create awareness to the community about the impact of Desertification in our environment and daily life. To achieve this they invited NGOs, donors, institutions, associations and other organizations working in the environmental field to exhibit their work in the fair giving them the opportunity to network with the public…more.

World Environment Day 2007: Climate Change .. Why should I care??

On Saturday June 2^nd, 2007 under the theme “Climate Change…Why should I Care??” Wadi Environmental Science Centre and British Council Egypt hosted Egypt’s World Environment Day event for the community. Festivities were held at Azhar Park and ran from approximately 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.                                                                                                                                             Through the event organizers brought together Egyptian, UK and International stakeholders to create awareness about the Environmental issues focusing on the effects of Climate Change and the impact of positive actions on the environment, particularly amongst young people…more.

World Environment Day 2008: Kick the Habit!

Wadi Environmental Science Centre, the British Council and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina are hosted the World Environment Day together on Saturday 7^th of June, 2008 in Al-Azhar Park. Under the theme “Kick the Habit!” Organizers Aim was to trigger peoples’ minds on the different daily negative habits they have and their effect on the environment.                                                                                                                                                                                       Such a theme is an extremely important focus for Egypt. This year the celebration of WED 2008 was not limited to a one day celebration, but extended to more small projects preceding the June celebration itself. These projects included a media workshop and a teachers’ training on environmental education focusing on the WED 2008 theme, “Kick the Habit!”...more.

World Environment Day 2009: your planet needs YOU!

Wadi Environmetnal Science Centre, and The Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs are hosting the World Environment Day together on the 10th of October 2009 at the Cairo House under the theme “your planet needs YOU!” by organizing School Contests and an environmental science fair open to the entire community.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Through the event we aimed to engage peoples’ minds on environmental issues like  (energy consumption, waste, audio/visual pollution, and air pollution). It encouraged them to be active citizens in reducing their impacts on the environment by organizing campaigns, initiatives and activities, through interest groups and NGOs.  Such a theme is an extremely important focus for Egypt as small local community initiatives can be the catalyst of national political will…more.