The third weekend of September is dedicated to inspire action across the globe to clean, fix and conserve environment. In conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme, it brings together 35 million volunteers in about 120 countries who participate in a range of activities aimed at cleaning up their local environment.

This community based program brings together people from all walks of life to clean up, fix up and conserve the environment. Ian Kiernan is the person who brought this concept to the world. He started with starting Clean up Sydney Harbour Day in 1989 moving on to Clean Up Australia Day in 1990 and finally after gaining the support of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Clean Up the World campaign came into being in 1993.

His motivation came in 1987 when he competed in the BOC challenge solo yacht race; sailing across the world he was taken aback by the pollution in the sea and stepped up to take action. His actions were awarded by the UNEP and he received the ‘Sasakawa Environment Prize’. He also received ‘Building World Citizenship Award’ from World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and has been names as Global 500 Laureate.

This year, Clean Up the World weekend will take place from 14 to 16 September. This campaign encourages members to organize clean up events around the world on this weekend and also engage in long term environment initiatives in their own communities. Clean Up the World weekend took place from 15 to 17 September in 2006 and from 16 to 18 September in 2005. The weekend is the focal point where all year environment programmes are celebrated as well as millions of volunteers participate in environmental initiative for the weekend. It encourages the participants to think about practical solutions to the local environmental problems for a sustainable future.

“Clean Up the World encapsulates one fundamental idea: how to mobilize people around the world to take on the practical challenge of environmental sustainability. It sounds a very ambitious objective, but it is in our cities, our gardens, our public parks and on the beaches that each one of us can begin to make a difference.”
Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director

For more information on Clean Up the World Campaign, please click here.