2023 Calendar: Environmental Days

Thousands of hikers, bikers, rowers, horseback riders, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, land trusts, and businesses come together in partnership to advocate for, maintain, and clean up public lands and trails.

First Saturday in June

Food safety is the absence — or safe, acceptable levels — of hazards in food that may harm the health of consumers. Food-borne hazards can be microbiological, chemical or physical in nature and are often invisible to the plain eye: bacteria, viruses or pesticide residues are some examples.

On World Oceans Day, people around our blue planet celebrate and honor our one global ocean, which connects us all. Get together with your family, friends, community, and the planet to start creating a better future. By working together, we can — and will — protect our shared ocean. Join this growing global celebration on 8 June with continuing engagement year-round!

Takes place every June 8
#WorldOceansDay

Global Wind Day is a worldwide event that occurs annually on 15 June. It is a day for discovering wind, its power and the possibilities it holds to reshape our energy systems, decarbonise our economies and boost jobs and growth.

Occurs annually on June 15

Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.

Sustainable Gastronomy Day emphasizes the need to focus the world’s attention on the role that sustainable gastronomy can play. It also reaffirms that all cultures and civilizations are contributors and crucial enablers of sustainable development.

The UN General Assembly adopted on 21 December 2016 its resolution A/RES/71/246 and designated 18 June as an international observance, Sustainable Gastronomy Day

The first World Rainforest Day was launched on June 22nd, 2017 by Rainforest Partnership as a collaborative effort to raise awareness and encourage action to protect the world’s rainforests.

The Tropics account for 40 percent of the world’s total surface area and are host to approximately 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity and much of its language and cultural diversity. The tropical region faces a number of challenges such as climate change, deforestation, logging, urbanisation, and demographic changes.

#TropicsDay

Recognizes that reproductive health and gender equality are essential for achieving sustainable development.

Global Tiger Day is celebrated every year on July 29th as a way to raise awareness about this magnificent but endangered big cat. The day was founded in 2010, when the 13 tiger range countries came together to create Tx2 – the global goal to double the number of wild tigers by the year 2022.

To recognize the most iconic victim of the palm oil industry, International Orangutan Day has been set for August 19th. This event is to help encourage the public to take action in preserving this amazing species.

#OrangutanDay

The ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun, thus helping preserve life on the planet.

The phaseout of controlled uses of ozone depleting substances and the related reductions have not only helped protect the ozone layer for this and future generations, but have also contributed significantly to global efforts to address climate change; furthermore, it has protected human health and ecosystems by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth.

The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.

Also referred to as ZeDay, the initiative started back in 2008 in Nov Scotia as a day to minimize the use of electricity generated by fossil fuels.

#ZeroEmissionsDay
#zeday

Every year on or around 22 September, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated society.

World Rivers Day is a celebration of the world’s waterways. It highlights the many values of rivers and strives to increase public awareness and encourages the improved stewardship of rivers around the world.

Fourth Sunday of September

The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns

In 1993, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center created International Migratory Bird Day. This educational campaign focused on the Western Hemisphere and celebrates its 25th year in 2018. Since 2007, IMBD has been coordinated by Environment for the Americas (EFTA), a non-profit organization that strives to connect people to bird conservation.

Second Saturday of May and October

Whether you’re a business, farmer, government representative or simply someone that’s willing to make a change, here’s our recipe to help you make healthy eating and #ZeroHunger a way of life

#WorldFoodDay
#ZeroHunger

America Recycles Day® (ARD), a Keep America Beautiful® national initiative, is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. Each year, on and in the weeks leading into Nov. 15, thousands of communities across the country participate by promoting environmental citizenship and taking action to increase and improve recycling in America.

Occurs every Nov 15
#BeRecycled

With their majestic, spotted coats and their silent, silky movements, jaguars are the iconic big cat of the Americas. International Jaguar Day, November 29, highlights the pressing need to conserve them. Jaguar North America, LLC is collaborating with WCS to raise awareness and support.

#StopSoilErosion is at the heart of the Global Soil Partnership’s mandate as demonstrated by the Global Symposium on Soil Erosion. We work to ensure that people have safe and nutritious food to ensure active and healthy life without endangering essential ecosystems services.

Mountains are home of the 15% of the world´s population and a quarter of the world’s land animals and plants. They provide freshwater for everyday life to half of humanity. Their conservation is a key factor for sustainable development and is part of Goal 15 of the SDGs.

The Avian Welfare Coalition’s National Bird Day campaign aims to reduce the suffering of birds by raising public awareness of the destructive bird trade, the realities of cruel bird breeding mills, and ways to improve the welfare of birds already in captivity.

#NationalBirdDay
#DoBetter4Birds
#MoreBeautifulWild

Every year, this global event draws attention to the challenges polar bears face in a warming Arctic—and how we each can help.

On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March, the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.

The International Day of Action for Rivers is a day dedicated to solidarity – when diverse communities around the world come together with one voice to say that our rivers matter.
Since 1985, International Rivers has been at the heart of the global struggle to protect rivers and the rights of communities that depend on them.

Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 to help recognize, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet. It is a day for the world to come together, and put the planet first.

#recyclingheroes

World Wood Day is a cultural event on March 21st, the vernal equinox, to highlight wood as an eco-friendly and renewable biomaterial and to raise awareness on the key role wood plays in a sustainable world through biodiversity and forest conservation. The day serves as a reminder of the importance and true value of wood and its responsible uses.

In 2010, the UN recognized “the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.”