Celebrating World Environment Day

Commemorate the 51st World Environment Day with this curated list of Planetizen articles highlighting research and projects that promote a healthier, more sustainable world.

2 minute read

June 5, 2024, 11:00 AM PDT

By Mary Hammon @marykhammon


Bird's eye view of park with green trees, concrete walkways, and benches on lake or riverfront.

watman / Adobe Stock

It’s World Environment Day, a global celebration that has been held annually on June 5 since 1973. According to its official website, “World Environment Day is a global platform for inspiring positive change. People from more than 150 countries participate in this United Nations international day, which celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses and individuals to create a more sustainable world.” This year the event is being hosted by Saudi Arabia with a focus on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.

In honor of this global commemorative date, Planetizen’s editors have pulled together a roundup of recent articles highlighting studies and initiatives in cities and rural communities across the United States aimed at protecting and enhancing environmental and public health.

Here’s a list of recent headlines highlighting inspiring environmental research and projects:


Mary Hammon

Mary is an editor and writer who is passionate about urban planning and the direct impact it has on people's lives and how we experience the world around us. Prior to joining Planetizen as editorial manager in December 2023, she spent eight years as an editor for Planning magazine, the flagship publication of the American Planning Association.

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

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Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

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Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

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Close-up on BLM sign on Continental Divide Trail in Rawlins, Wyoming.

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Calvary Street bridge over freeway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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