KEY POINTS:
New Zealand is hosting World Environment Day for the first time since it was started in 1972 by the United Nations Environment Programme.
Celebrated on Thursday, it will involve a huge range of community, Government and business events throughout the country.
UNEP executive director Achim Steiner will be
here to celebrate, with the UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change Nobel laureate Dr Rajendra Pachauri.
President Anote Tong of Kiribati is also a guest.
The Environment Day theme for 2008 is "working towards a low carbon economy".
Environment Minister Trevor Mallard said New Zealand had already indicated its intention to lead the charge internationally in becoming carbon neutral.
It had announced a carbon emissions trading scheme and 170 moves by Government agencies aimed at many levels, from the household to the international arena.
Mr Mallard said hosting the day was an opportunity for New Zealand to showcase what the country was doing nationally, regionally and internationally to reduce the effects of climate change.
"On 5 June, when heads of state, prime ministers, VIPs and organisations across the world mark World Environment Day, all eyes will be on New Zealand."
The day was intended to be a people's event celebrated with activities such as street parades, school essay and poster competitions, tree planting, recycling and clean-up campaigns.
Kick the Habit - towards a low carbon economy, is the slogan for the event, promoting activities such as reducing waste and electricity use.
A website enables New Zealanders to make a pledge to support the carbon challenge and record their personal commitment to reducing their environmental impacts.
The commitments will be recorded and become part of a national total for pledged carbon footprint reductions.
The Ministry for the Environment's Green Ribbon Awards will be announced today, rewarding innovative solutions to environmental problems with community actions and lifetime commitments.
* What's happening ...
Conservation Volunteers NZ teams with the Auckland City Council and Timberlands on a tree planting project at Meola Reef Reserve in Pt Chevalier.
Auckland Zoo will reward those who walk, cycle or take the bus to the zoo with half-price entry. It will also open an Art for Conservation exhibition in the old elephant house and run sustainability tours from Tuesday to Friday.
On Wednesday evening, Maori Television will feature high-profile New Zealanders talking about their environmental views. The programme was made by young filmmakers who were part of The Outlook for Someday sustainability film challenge.
Trade Aid is having an art auction to raise money for environmental education and Enviroschools in New Zealand. Its 31 shops are running a competition to create a piece of work that converts junk into a piece of art, with the winning piece auctioned.
In Wellington a prototype wave energy generator will be demonstrated in the water at Evans Bay.
More information:
* www.world.environment.govt.nz
* www.conservationvolunteers.co.nz/environment-pledge-form.asp
