"Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care."

Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care. That is the theme of this year's World Environment Day – celebrated today, June 5th!

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, World Environmental Day (WED) helps raise awareness to protect nature and encourage worldwide awareness and action for environmental protection.

Each year, a different host country is chosen along with a new theme. This year the host is Italy – a country at the forefront of global action towards improved global nutrition and resource use.

The theme this year focuses on the well-being of humanity, the environment, and the functioning of the economy, that ultimately depend upon the responsible management of the planet’s natural resources.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, "Many of the Earth’s ecosystems are nearing critical tipping points of depletion or irreversible change, pushed by high population growth and economic development. By 2050, if current consumption and production patterns remain the same and with a rising population expected to reach 9.6 billion, we will need three planets to sustain our ways of living and consumption."

"Consuming with care means living within planetary boundaries to ensure a healthy future where our dreams can be realized. Human prosperity need not cost the earth. Living sustainably is about doing more and better with less. It is about knowing that rising rates of natural resource use and the environmental impacts that occur are not a necessary by-product of economic growth."

The United Nations calls the Day the “people’s day for doing something positive for the environment.” So, what will you do to take action?

Read more and check out local resources and events at UNEP.

World Environment Day image via Shutterstock.