Visits to national parks, actions to protect or clean-up protected areas, a quiz, workshops, roundtables and political fora are among events taking place in our region for the UN’s most important annual environmental awareness-raising day on 5 June.

The 2017 edition of the occasion is held under the theme of ‘connecting people with nature’. The natural world is essential for us to have clean air, safe and good food and countless other services in our lives.

“Every mouthful of food, every breath of air is owed to nature – we depend on it” Sir David Attenborough reminds us in the run-up to the day.

On and around 5 June, we are therefore encouraged to swap the chirp of our phones for that of real birds outside in order to experience and remember to protect it. Why not join an event, visit a national park or simply picnic outside that day to experience nature.

Schools are also encouraged to hold one lesson outdoors to celebrate the day and mayors are called on to share their initiatives for bringing people closer to nature in urban areas – please get in touch to take part.

To view an array of events organized in and around Geneva for the day please click here and for those across the region click here.

You can get more information on the global day here or by writing to isabelle.valentiny@unep.org