Every year, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) honors World Environment Day on June 5 to raise awareness about environmental issues and call for action. UNEP just announced the theme of this year’s event: sustainable lifestyles.

 

The topic is a particularly powerful one, because there’s room for everyone to take a moment to question how we live and how it impacts the planet. The theme asks everyone to evaluate our consumer habits: how we shop, eat and travel.

 

UNEP says creating more sustainable lifestyles is crucial:

 

“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 way of life. Living well within planetary boundaries is the most promising strategy for ensuring a healthy future.”

 

Each year, UNEP runs several campaigns to get the word out about the World Environment Day theme. Environmental organizations, schools and groups of all kinds typically organize events leading up to and taking place on June 5.

 

Last year, World Environment Day was hosted in Barbados and focused on small island developing nations, which are already seeing the direct effects of climate change and sea level rise. In 2013, World Environment Day took on the issue of food waste, which not only contributes to global hunger but is also a heavy burden on natural resources.

 

Today, you’re invited to vote for your favorite World Environment Day slogan by visiting: UNEP.org/wed/ and sharing your choice on social media. The most-shared slogan will become the official motto for the events. Voting ends on March 26.

 

 

PHOTO CREDIT: UNEP.