World Environment Day 2024: when is it and what is it? #GenerationRestoration theme explained

Hundreds of nations are coming together in-person and online to raise awareness of environmental issues at a time when the climate crisis takes grip of billions of people’s everyday lives.

Both governments and charities will be taking part as eyes turn to pressing environmental issues. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s awareness day.

When is World Environment Day?

World Environment Day is held every year on June 5. In 2024, this lands on a Wednesday.

What is World Environment Day?

World Environment Day was an initiative launched by the United Nations in 1972, with the first day being held the next year in 1973. More than 140 countries take part in the awareness day, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Poland and the United States among others.

The awareness day is used to platform action for the protection of the environment with events held both in-person and online. Each year a different theme and focus is presented, although overarching issues such as overpopulation, global warming and marine pollution are often key regardless of theme.

What is World Environment Day 2024’s theme?

This year, the theme which 143 countries across the world will be focusing on is #GenerationRestoration. This covers lands restoration, desertification and drought resilience, coinciding with with the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to combat desertification.

With an official host location announced each year alongside the theme, Saudi Arabia is hosting the 2024 edition. The UN said: “According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, up to 40 per cent of the planet’s land is degraded, directly affecting half of the world’s population and threatening roughly half of global GDP (US$44 trillion). The number and duration of droughts has increased by 29 per cent since 2000 – without urgent action, droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world's population by 2050.”