22 February 2012: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced that Brazil will host World Environment Day 2012, under the theme “Green Economy: Does it include you?” World Environment Day, which is celebrated annually on 5 June, will take place a few weeks before the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

UNEP notes that Brazil is at the forefront of generating green jobs, with a recycling industry generating US$2 billion annually, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 10 million tons. Brazil is also a leader in sustainable ethanol production for vehicle fuel.

According to UNEP, this year’s theme aims to encourage people to assess if development pathways towards a Green Economy can deliver social, economic and environmental outcomes necessary to support seven billion people. UNEP also announced that Kia Motors Corporation has donated four fuel-efficient Kia Rios and one 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid to UNEP to mark World Environment Day. UNEP said it will launch a competition for organizations working at the grassroots of the Green Economy to win one of the vehicles to further their work. [World Environment Day Website] [UNEP Press Release]