World Environment Day is June 5

Global warming claims so much attention it's no surprise that fighting it is the focus of World Environmental Day (WED) on June 5.

The United Nations General Assembly established WED in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. The theme for 2009 is "Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change."Nations are being urged to come to an agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be conducted in Copenhagen Dec. 7-Dec. 18.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore has stressed the need for a new agreement "Not next year. This year." The host country for this year's WED is Mexico, which was picked because of its growing role in the fight against climate change.

Mexico is a partner in the United NationÕs Environment Programme's (UNEP) Billion Tree Campaign and has pledged the planting of 25 percent of the trees under this campaign.

UNEP has now launched a new phase, The Seven Billion Tree Campaign. They hope to see more than one new tree planted for every person alive by the Copenhagen meetings.

President Calderon of Mexico said he hoped WED would not only be a time of reflection on the great challenges facing humanity but a time also of action and commitment.

To find 80 ways you and your community can combat climate change check out the World Environment Day Alphabet at www.unep.org/wed/2009.