On October 15, 2009, the United Nations Environment Programme announced the selection of Pittsburgh as the North American Host City for World Environment Day on June 5, 2010. The selection of Pittsburgh reaffirms the region’s place as a thought leader in regional innovation and transformation.

A little bit of history —

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Commemorated each year on June 5, World Environment Day is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. With thousands of events in UNEP’s six global regions, namely, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, West Asia and Europe, World Environment Day is considered one of the largest environmental events of its kind. More information

There are dozens of events planned throughout the month of June and a high concentration on June 5, a few short days from now. You can tour a zero energy house, attend a documentary or help out with a clean up.