How do we affect our future environment? Who will be the most vulnerable? And: How can we help them? Every year on the 5th of June the World Environment Day (WED) focuses on these questions from another perspective. In support of the UN`s designation of 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Development States (SIDS), the WED 2014 emphasises the threats of Climate Change for SIDS around the world. This year’s slogan “Raise your voice, not the sea level”, therefore, asks for as many individual actions as possible. From single, small decisions to big, widespread campaigns on environment and Climate Change - galvanizing individual actions into a collective power generates an exponential positive impact on the planet.

Small Island Development States are threatened

Already now, melting ice and global warming expand the seawater and lead to the rise of global sea waters. This century, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) even predicts a extremely increased rate of sea level rice compared to the past. Floods and storms surges, the loss of land mass and homes as well as the destruction of wildlife habitats and rich ecosystems will affect islands from Trinidad and Tobago to Tonga, from Samoa to Suriname. But: mitigation is still possible.

World Environment Day 2014 in Europe

From recycling drives, walk-to-work days or dance recitals on the behalf of environment - The World Environment Day 2014 offers a broad platform for doing something positive for the environment. The easiest and most fun bringing possibility? Joining UNEP offices around Europe in Geneva, Brussels, Sarajevo, Montenegro, Vienna and Moscow for celebrating the World Environment Day on one of their individual public events. Or register for the big WED-challenge on the official WED - Homepage and join a team from one of the four UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors. Supermodel Gisele Bündchen, actors Don Cheadle and Ian Somerhalder and footballer Yaya Touré compete with each other to get as many of your individual actions for the WED or Small Island Development States as possible cause: every action counts.

For more information about the World Environment Day, please visit: http://www.unep.org/wed/

For joining the WED – Challenge and one of the teams, click on: http://www.unep.org/wed/wedchallenge/