2014 being the International Year of Small Island Developing States, the theme of World Environment Day 2014 —Raise your voice, not the sea level— addressed how climate change is threatening these countries’ land and livelihoods. The purpose of the Day was to galvanize individual actions into a collective power to create an exponential positive effect on the health of the planet. World Environment day has grown to be a global platform for public outreach and is celebrated in over 100 countries throughout the world.

The host country this year was Barbados. In recent decades, this island has seen a significant increase in its air temperatures and it expects to continue to be affected by increases in temperature, rising sea levels and associated erosion and flooding, and changing weather patterns. Its sugar industry and tourism sector, which respectively account for around 2% and 15% of the gross domestic product, are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. But the Government has already taken steps to reduce the climate impact and to provide its people with clean, renewable energy and opportunities for green economic growth.

Along with the official celebrations on 5 June in Barbados, awareness campaigns and events were held throughout the world during the same week. The following are some of the events that were organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for Europe in Geneva and its offices in Brussels, Vienna, Moscow and Sarajevo.