World Environment Day

WHAT IS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (WED)

World Environment Day (WED) is an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place all year round but climax on 5 June every year, involving everyone from everywhere.

WED celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become the one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.

Through WED, the UN Environment Programme is able to personalize environmental issues and enable everyone to realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development. WED is also a day for people from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.

Everyone counts in this initiative and WED relies on you to make this happen! We call for action – organize a neighbourhood clean-up, stop using plastic bags and get your community to do the same, plant a tree or better yet organize a collective tree planting effort, walk to work, start a recycling drive...the possibilities are endless. Check out the WED pack for interesting suggestions on what you could do

Whatever you do, tell us about it and we will promote your activities on our communications platforms.

So what are you going to do for WED?

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FIM AND THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY – PAST ACTIONS

Since 2007 and following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the FIM and UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), FIM is celebrating every year the World Environment Day – official date 5 June – at all FIM events taking place around this date.

2007

This was the first awareness campaign on environmental issues that took place at all FIM events organised the weekend preceding the World Environment Day. Planting of trees, messages from speakers to the public and media announcement with the participation of top riders were the first steps taken at the following events: FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (Mugello, Italy), FIM Trial World Championship (Motegi, Japan) and FIM SuperMoto World Championship (Villars-sous-Ecot, France).

2008

In 2008, the FIM RIDE GREEN logo was used for the first time in the WED commemorations and t-shirts, that were wore by all riders participating in this action, were created for that occasion. The majority of the MotoGP riders attended the photo-shooting to stress the importance of recycling while 250cc and 125cc riders visit a recycling station close to the Catalunya circuit. In the other disciplines, planting of trees were organised and the riders as well as the officials present were sending environmental messages to the attention of the public.

2009

To commemorate the 2009 WED, the FIM International Environment Commission prepared a FIM Environmental Charter that has been signed by all top-riders of all FIM disciplines (MotoGP, Superbike, Endurance, MX1 & MX2, SuperMoto, Trial and Speedway) during the previous weekend of the World Environment Day. The eight points included in this charter cover most of the main environmental issues in our sport, from the protection of the ground to the management of waste material. By signing this charter, the riders show their concern, involvement and implication regarding environmental issue within the motorcycling world.

2010

To continue its environmental awareness campaign within the motorcycling world, the FIM organised photos-shootings with the participation of all riders during FIM events taking place the weekend of the World Environment Day. Great coverage by the media and an increase interest from National Federations, organisers and promoters make this year’s action a success and allow the Ride Green message to touche the fans and spectators of motorcycling events. Moreover, information printed in the events’ programmes and messages from the speakers supported this initiative.

2011

In 2011, a new step was taken with the shared commitment by the FIM, DORNA (MotoGP promoter), IRTA (International Riders and Teams Association) and MSMA (Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association) to cooperate in the implementation of different environmental management programmes for the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP) events. These programmes aim to reduce the ecological footprint of daily activities and develop a sustainable approach when organising events, starting with the press offices and progressively extending the scope to include pits, paddocks and hospitality units.

2012

Happy World Environment Day! With these words, the FIM encouraged the motorcycling community to celebrate this important date and presented its brand new FIM Ride Green logo. On this occasion, the FIM was also pleased to launch the FIM Environmental Ambassadors project with the participation of various riders from the different FIM disciplines such as Laia Sanz (Trial), Marc Márquez and Randy de Puniet (Road Racing). These riders, who will soon be followed by other riders across the world, will lend their voices to transmit environmental messages and create awareness about environmental issues.

Marc Márquez, Laia Sanz, Randy de Puniet