World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on June 5 every year and has been celebrated since 1972.  It was established by the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.
It is on the same day, that the General Assembly created the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which is now the United Nations’ principal agency for environmental action. Over the years, the day has focused on such issues as acid rain, oceans, water, ‘green cities’, desertification, climate change, air pollution.
WED is one of the practical channels through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances both individual and political attention and action.  Last year (2008), the international WED celebrations were centered in New Zealand with focus on Fostering Low-Carbon Economies.
Uganda’s national WED celebrations were held at Arua Grounds, Arua town, in Arua District under the local theme “Save Energy for Better Livelihood” derived from the global theme. 
The day gives all of us chance to play part in our own capacities to contribute towards ensuring sustainable development. 

Theme for WED 2009 Celebrations and Justification

In cooperation with UNEP, Mexico will host the international WED 2009 celebrations with focus on Climate Change prevention. Mexico, a country at the crossroads of the Green Economy and one increasingly in the centre of regional and global affairs will host the international 2009 World Environment Day celebrations. The theme chosen by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is, “Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change”.

This reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new agreement at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.
WED 2009 celebrations will focus on the solutions and the opportunities for countries, companies and communities to "Unite to Combat Climate Change".  Measures include, water shade management and maintenance, tree planting to counter rises in greenhouse gases. An estimated 20 per cent of emissions contributing to Climate Change globally are as a result of deforestation.

Local theme

Unlike in the past two or so years, this year 2009, the international theme is clear and relevant to Uganda’s current situation in as far as climate change is concerned. Therefore it is proper to work under the same theme “Your Planet Needs You-Unite to Combat Climate Change”.    
With the current climate fluctuations/change, Uganda should look at ways of preventing these negative climate changes and managing activities that may lead to green house gases production. Since we still depend so much on our biomass for our energy needs, we should re-emphasize tree planting to create a renewable and dependable energy base as well as maintain our hydrological (water) cycle. Sustainable oil exploration should also be emphasized to prevent the environmental problems that have been faced by the oil-rich countries in the past. 

Objective

The main objective of WED is to enhance public awareness, knowledge and action towards the importance of conserving and managing the environment. The day’s agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable development; promote an understanding that makes communities change their attitudes towards environment and form partnership to ensure all people enjoy a safe and health environment.

Venue

Kayunga District will host the National WED 2009 celebrations. The district has not hosted the WED before and is among those districts that showed interest in hosting the event last year (2008).  Putting it in consideration that climate change is now experienced country-wide; the district is one of those affected by Climate Change problems.

Proposed Activities

(i) Programs on the broadcast media: radio/TV programs, spot messages and talk shows (covering regions and major local languages) shall be run to highlight WED 2009.
(ii) Production and televising documentaries on a chosen environmental management issue (in line with the day’s theme). This can be shown on UBC and WBS (due to their wide coverage) during and before the week of 5th June and later distributed to our various development partners to assist in our mission to enhance access to environment information by local communities.
(iii) Poster campaign-production of posters, fact sheets and NEMA Environment day stickers.   
(iv) Tree planting; trees play a great part in environment management (green house gas absorption and climate modification).
(v) Children’s drama competition
(vi)  Involvement of key stakeholder groups; to create a sense of ownership of the WED messages, NEMA needs to sensitize and encourage key stakeholders to drive the message through schools, Non-government Organizations-NGOs, Community Based Organizations-CBOs, Civil Society Organizations-CSOs, Faith Based Organizations, and Private Sector etc.

1)      District level mobilization and activities:
(i) A circular will be issued to all the districts leadership indicating the (chosen) theme and possible activities to mark the WED at district and local level. 
(ii) The District Environment Officers should be encouraged to make public awareness campaigns on the subject.
(iii) Competitions to identify model district which was launched by the then minister of water, lands and environment during the 2005 WED should continue so as to boost environment management at district level.

2)      National Venue Activities
The following are suggested (not limited) activities
(i) Restoration (tree planting on streets and community land)
(ii) Clean-up campaigns in partnership with schools, NGOs and Local communities.
(iii) Exhibition on the day itself of best available technologies and information for sustainable environment management in line with the day’s theme.
(iv) Drama, dance and songs in line with the day’s theme.
(v) Award of the model district and recognizing the best environment managers in different sectors. 
(vi) Speeches.