Preparations for World Environment Day, which will be held on 5 June, have already begun.

At the iconic Rockefeller Center in New York, 192 crowd-sourced pieces of biodegradable art have replaced the country flags of the United Nations members. The art takeover will raise awareness of the climate crisis and draw attention to the urgent need to protect planetary health.

The selected designs were chosen by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate Museum, a New York-based museum dedicated to highlighting the climate crisis and will be displayed from April 1 to May 6 to commemorate Earth Day and again on 5 June to celebrate World Environment Day.

“This collaboration with the Rockefeller Center is a great opportunity to call for urgent actions for a healthy planet for the prosperity of all,” said Ligia Noronha, the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office. “This is a critical year marking important environmental milestones, including UNEP’s 50th anniversary and Stockholm+50, to gather momentum to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.”

Hundreds of designs were submitted from around the world, with winning entries focusing on themes ranging from biodiversity and deforestation to global warming and clean energy.

As we approach World Environment Day be sure to follow this feed for updates and news.