Pittsburgh Hosts World Environment Day

Pittsburgh hosted World Environment Day on Saturday.

World Environment Day was designed years ago to give a human face to environmental issues, empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development, promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes toward environmental issues and advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

Several environment-related events took place throughout Pittsburgh on Saturday.

In the morning, Pittsburghers attempted to break the Guinness World Record for "Largest Raft of Canoes/Kayaks."

Photos: Canoers, Kayakers Fill River At 'Paddle At The Point,' Break World Record Aerial Video: Canoers, Kayakers Break World Record At 'Paddle At The Point'

With at least 1,800 canoes and kayaks in the Allegheny River, the record was easily broken, according to Cara Rufenacht of Venture Outdoors.

The prior record was 1,104 boats in Inlet, N.Y.

The record attempt involved a flotilla, a free-floating raft of kayaks and canoes held together by hands.

Kayakers and canoers launched their boats earlier than scheduled due to the rain in the forecast.

Once launched, they each grabbed on to a paddle and held the position for 30 seconds, long enough to satisfy the record’s time requirement.

In the afternoon, people enjoyed free tours of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and fun activities at the Carnegie Science Center.

Photos: Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Supports World Environment Day Photos: Carnegie Science Center Hosts Environment Day Activities

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Commemorated each year on June 5, World Environment Day is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. With thousands of events in UNEP's six global regions, namely, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, West Asia and Europe, World Environment Day is considered one of the largest environmental events of its kind.