Pittsburgh to Host 2010 World Environment Day

Earth 911

October 26, 2009

by Lauren Hasler

Pittsburgh will be in the environmental spotlight again when it hosts the annual World Environment Day on June 5, 2010.

The city was recently selected by the United Nations Environmental Programme to be the North American host city for the worldwide event. The theme for next year is "Biodiversity: Connecting with Nature."

Though not as well known as Earth Day in the U.S., World Environment Day has been celebrated each year since 1972. It is one of the largest environmental events annually.

President Obama chose to hold the G-20 Summit earlier this year in Pittsburgh, with the intention of drawing attention to the environmental strides taken by the city. Photo: Flickr/fusionpanda

As part of its duties, Pittsburgh will have to plan activities between the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22 and World Environment Day to "bridge the gap." These events may include concerts, fairs, environmental issues symposia and competitions.

According to its Web site, the goals of World Environment Day are to:

1. Give a human face to environmental issues
2. Empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development
3. Promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues
4. Advocate partnerships which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future

"In terms of sustainability, Pittsburgh has come so far, whether it's in innovation and research, environmental education or sustainable business practices," said Greg Babe, president and CEO of Bayer Corporation, which is located in Pittsburgh. "As the North American host city for World Environment Day, the Pittsburgh region and the companies that call it home have a unique opportunity to showcase our progress and enhance the ongoing dialogue about this important topic."

Cities in five other regions will also be chosen to host, but have not yet been selected. The other regions are Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, West Asia, and Europe.