Sunday Without Cars in Downtown San José?
Although the action is totally voluntary, the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía (Minae) wants to see all Costa Ricans leave their cars at home this Sunday and take the bus to their destination, in celebration of World Environment Day.

Roberto Dobles, Minae minister, said that it would be nice to see people walk, take the bicycle or the bus on Sunday in a move to call the attention to the damage contamination is doing to the planet.

World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

The World Environment Day slogan selected for 2007 is Melting Ice – a Hot Topic? In support of International Polar Year, the World Environment Day theme selected for 2007 focuses on the effects that climate change is having on polar ecosystems and communities, and the ensuing consequences around the world.

When did it all begin?

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

How can you celebrate World Environment Day?

World Environment Day can be celebrated in many ways, including street rallies, bicycles parades, green concerts, essay and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, recycling efforts, clean-up campaigns and much more. In many countries, this annual event is used to enhance political attention and action.