WED is an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action.
The 2012 theme for WED is "Green Economy: Does it include you?"
The United Nations (UN) Environment Programme defines Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.
Environmental hazards are responsible for as much as a quarter of the total burden of disease world-wide, and more than one-third of the burden among children.
Heading that list are diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, various forms of unintentional injuries and malaria.
The disease burden is much higher in the developing world, although in the case of certain non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers, the per capita disease burden is larger in developed countries.
Health impacts of environmental hazards run across more than 80 diseases and types of injury.
Well-targeted interventions can prevent much of this environmental risk. Worldwide, as many as 13 million deaths could be prevented every year by making our environments healthier.
WED celebrations began in 1972 and have grown to become the one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action. Let us join the global population in keeping our community and our environment healthier!
WED is also a day for people from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.
