World Environment Day (WED) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. WED is hosted every year by a different city and commemorated with an international exposition through the week of June 5th. The UN uses WED to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and public action.

The theme for WEB 2005 is "Green Cities." This is timely because the 21st century marks the first time in human history that the majority of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Today, cities consume 75% of the planet’s natural resources. As urban populations grow, it is increasingly important to balance the needs of the environment, the economy, and social equity if we are going to achieve a way of living that can support our planet and our people into future generations.

From June 1-5, World Environment Day festivities will include special events focusing on urban environmental issues. Each day of the 5-day event will focus on specific theme: Urban Power (energy, renewables and energy conservation), Cities on the Move (transportation), Redesigning Metropolis (waste diversion and the built environment), Pure Elements (food, water and air) and Flower Power (open space, biodiversity and greening the urban environment). World Environment Day will include an array of activities—from symposia and seminars to various community events such as an environmental film festival, arts programming, experiential educational activities, eco-tours, concerts, and other events which will be attended by Bay Area residents, as well as many of the 16 million tourists who annually visit San Francisco.

Perhaps the most historic legacy that San Francisco will leave for the future of the global environment will be the Urban Environmental Accords, a compendium of concrete and achievable actions for critical environmental areas that will be signed by the Mayors of the planet's 100 largest and most environmentally innovative cities.

World Environment Day 2005 will bring together Mayors of these 100 cities to share ideas and experiences. The purpose is to establish a set of actions that cities and take to develop livable environments and identify the tools needed to achieve the targets outlined in what will be formalized as the San Francisco Urban Environmental Accords. This roadmap to a livable urban future may be the greatest legacy of San Francisco's turn as host of WED.

For more information go to:
http://www.wed2005.org/