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To find out what events were registered see the World Environment Day events on NZLive.

What were the main events?

The United Nations Environment Programme organises in partnership with the host country a number of core events for each World Environment Day. These include:

• the Art for the Environment Exhibition with works from renowned international artists
• a photographic exhibition from the UNEP International Photographic Competition on the Environment
• an international children’s painting competition.

In addition to these international events, and in conjunction with environmentally focussed organisations throughout the country, a coordinated programme of national and regional events was developed and promoted through the World Environment Day website. These included:

• The Green Ribbon Awards, which are hosted annually on World Environment Day by the Ministry for the Environment, were held on 3 June at the Wellington Town Hall. The Awards acknowledged the outstanding contribution New Zealanders are making to sustaining, protecting and enhancing our environment.
• A Business Breakfast organised by the Business Council for Sustainable Development was held in Auckland on 4 June. The topic was “The challenges and opportunities for business presented by climate change”. This was then followed by a business symposium presented by the Victoria University of Wellington Institute of Policy Studies, in collaboration with the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute. Achim Steiner also presented a lunchtime lecture “Are we glimpsing the emergence of a green global economy?” at Auckland University.
• The first annual Hillary Symposium was held in Christchurch on 5 June. It marked the official launch of the Hillary Institute's programme theme for the next four years – Climate Change. Dr. Rajenda Pachauri, Chair of the Nobel- winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, led the symposium.
• Lunchtime Talk: How do we Decarbonise the World? A panel discussion hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies and Climate Change Research Institute, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington. Speakers at the discussion included Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP; Dr Rajendra Pachauri, Chair UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; President Anote Tong of Kiribati; and Hon. David Parker, Minister for Responsible Climate Change Issues.

International guests

A number of high profile international guests and journalists were in New Zealand to help celebrate World Environment Day 2008. Dr Rajendra Pachauri (chair of Nobel prize-winning United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change), Achim Steiner (Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme) and President Tong of Kiribati were among the high profile international guests who attended World Environment Day events.

Dr Pauchari attended the Auckland climate change symposium and the Leadership in Climate Change Solutions symposium in Christchurch, and also gave a ‘laureate lecture’.

Mr Steiner spoke at the Art for the Environment exhibition and gave a keynote speech at the Auckland business breakfast.