On June 5th, World Environment Day, Omaha, Nebraska will play host to the United Nations Environment Program. A number of organizations and individuals in Omaha will work with the United Nations Environment Program Regional Office for North America to organize events for World Environment Day, as well as a large number of activities for the month and a half between Earth Day on 22 April and World Environment Day.

Amy Fraenkel, director of UNEP’s North American Regional Office, which is based in based in Washington, DC was quoted as saying “While UNEP thinks globally, we must act locally by engaging partners from all sectors of society, including cities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, youth, and the media. It is important to bring this message to all parts of the United States, and we are proud to be partnering with the City of Omaha on World Environment Day 2009.”

UNEP told the Omaha World-Herald local newspaper that Omaha was chosen because of its location in the American heartland and because of the activities of the Green Omaha Coalition, which promotes a more sustainable city. The theme for World Environment Day 2009 is Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change.