On 4 June, the public were invited to take part in a bike event showing the direct benefits of adopting a sustainable lifestyle and how this lifestyle could make a difference to the sea-level rise affecting so many countries.

Along the lakeside, at the Bains des Pâquis, three stationary bicycles were connected to an interactive display. The ambassadors of Barbados, the Maldives, New Zealand and Singapore volunteered to take part in this educational and fun event. As the ambassadors, UN high officials, Swiss authorities and civil society representatives pedalled, large screens displayed the corresponding decrease in sea levels. Watch Geneva VIPs cycling like crazy for the islands: https://vimeo.com/97416188

On 5 June, events took place at the International Environment House. The Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction held a seminar entitled “From Natural Disasters to Natural Defences—Seeing Nature as a Part of the Solution”. The seminar examined whether nature should be promoted as a solution to reducing disaster risks. It also addressed the extent to which policy-makers could be willing to embrace natural defences as solutions.

Every year, a roundtable organized by the Geneva Environment Network for World Environment Day gathers stakeholders working on international environmental issues. This year’s roundtable focused on Small Island Developing States, climate change and disaster reduction. Since Geneva’s a hub within the UN system for risk reduction and resilience issues, the panel comprised high-level speakers from the UN, as well as government representatives. It included UNEP Regional Director Jan Dusik, Barbados Ambassador Marion Williams, UNISDR Director Elizabeth Longworth and Swiss Federal Office for the Environment Deputy Director Josef Hess. The roundtable was followed by a reception hosted by the Swiss and Geneva authorities.

On 2 June, the UNEP Vienna Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention (ISCC), the UN Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, this human world (THW) Film Festival and Topkino jointly held a screening of the documentary “Chasing Ice” (USA, 2012) by Jeff Orlowski. The film was followed by a podium discussion on climate change adaptation and mitigation. Among the three panellists were Mr. Harald Egerer, Head of Office of UNEP Vienna - Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention, Mr. Helmut Hojesky from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management and Prof. Helga Kromp-Kolb of the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU). The discussion focused on the importance of investing in adaptation and mitigation efforts, and the important role of every single individual to ensure a sustainable future. Furthermore, the panellists stressed out the need for all member states to find a joint agreement at the next UNFCCC COP 20 conference in Peru on CO2 reduction measures, and that such decisions should not solely rest on developing countries. The movie was very appreciated by the audience and the panellists.

Each year, Bruxelles Environnement (IBGE) celebrates World Environment Day: la Fête de l’Environnement. This year’s event, held in the Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels on Sunday 1 June, included an array of stands and activities and attracted 22.000 people. UNEP Brussels was present with a booth to promote the “Green Up” campaign. Practical tips were offered on how to make our daily life more sustainable (e.g. through recycling and energy efficiency). UNEP also provided general information on global issues such as climate change and its impacts, especially about Small Island Developing States, and urban farming. They organized several fun activities, such as: a game about waste, a demonstration of how you can upcycle everyday items, including by converting old shoes and egg cartons into planters.

In addition, under the theme “Think.Eat.Save”, seasonal and vegetarian recipes from Brussels-based food blogger Magdalena Wawrzonkowska were presented, including using leftovers, which people can use to combat food waste. ASBL Biodrome.be provided information on urban farming and distributed Urban Grow kits. UNEP Brussels partnered with the United Nations Regional Information Centre for this event, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.

On 5 June UNEP Moscow Office, UN Information Centre in Moscow (UNIC Moscow) and the Moscow Central Dobroliubov Library organized a special WED event held at the Library's premises with participation of students-ecologists of the Moscow Academy of Chemical Technology. Welcoming addresses were made by the Director of the UNIC Moscow Alexandre Gorelik, Ekaterina Tegina of UNEP Moscow Office, the Director of the Moscow Central Dobroliubov Library Lilia Bagrova, UN-HABITAT Programme Manager Tatiana Khabarova, UNECE Adviser Larissa Burakova and the Secretary-General of the Moscow branch of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Dmitry Samko.

These were followed by a lively discussion on environmental issues with a particular focus on the importance of promoting environmental responsibility and awareness raising, the opening of the exhibition of the UN publications on environment and sustainable development, a demonstration of the UNDP/GEF documentary "Baikal without borders", and a reception.