The UNEP's (United Nations Environmental Programme) World Environment Day is just around the corner on June 5 - after recent enviro days like Earth Week, Earth Day and Bike Week, what's World Environment Day (WED) all about?

The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You - UNite to Combat Climate Change', and provides the perfect lead up to the important Copenhagen climate convention meeting in December. This year’s WED host is Mexico, a leading partner in UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign. The country has pleded to plant 25% of the trees for the campaign, and since Mexico accounts for around 1.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country is the focus of many climate change efforts.

The UN's WED goals this year are to:

1. Give a human face to environmental issues;
2. Empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development;
3. Promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues;
4. Advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

If these goals sound a little run of the mill, rest assured that the UNEP is using modern tactics to make these goals a reality. Consider the UN's partnership with social hot networking tool Twitter; this is an awesome way to leverage technology, hit the most influential demographic out there, and make a difference to the environment.

If these goals sound a little run of the mill, rest assured that the UNEP is using modern tactics to make these goals a reality. Consider the UN's partnership with social hot networking tool Twitter; this is an awesome way to leverage technology, hit the most influential demographic out there, and make a difference to the environment.

Simply log in or join Twitter and "follow" UNEPandYou between now and World Environment Day on June 5, and the UNEPC will plant a tree for every follower they get. With the potential to get hundreds of thoursand of people on board, the Twitter for Trees initiative is exciting -  spread the word about the UNEP Twitter tree planting initiative and stay tuned for more on World Environment Day events.