2013- International Year of Water Cooperation

        The IYWC aims to direct International attention towards the opportunities for water cooperation among communities and countries in order to solve the challenges of water management. The UN resolution to designate 2013 as the Year of Water Cooperation recognizes that “water is critical for sustainable development, including environmental integrity and the eradication of poverty and hunger, and is indispensable for human health and well-being.”

2012- International Year of Sustainable Energy for All

       ‘The International Year of Sustainable Energy for All’ aims to get people to recognize that, access to affordable modern energy services is essential for sustainable development. It focuses on raising awareness about the importance of increasing access to energy, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.The UN has developed a Sustainable Energy for All initiative to attract global attention to the importance of energy for development and poverty reduction.

2011- The International Year of Forests

           The United Nations (UN) declared 2011 to be the International Year of Forests, along with the International Year of Youth, the International Year of Chemistry and the International Year for People of African Descent. The International year of Forests was declared by the UN in December 2006 to be celebrated in the year 2011. The Year celebrates the importance of forests in everyday life, to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management. It aims to conserve and sustain the development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

2010- The International Year of Biodiversity

            The United Nations’ (UN) declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity, along with the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures and the International Year of Youth. The International Year of Biodiversity aims to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity worldwide. The International Year of Biodiversity celebrates life on earth and biodiversity’s value for people’s lives. The loss of biodiversity threatens food supplies, opportunities for recreation and tourism, and sources of wood, medicines and energy. It also interferes with essential ecological functions. On December 20, 2006, the UN General Assembly declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity.

2009- The International Year of Astronomy

                The year 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy. People worldwide are celebrating the year, which commemorates the first astronomical use of the telescope by Galileo. It aims to stimulate worldwide interest in astronomy and science under the central theme “The Universe, Yours to Discover”. The International Year of Astronomy also celebrates the excitement of personal discovery, sharing fundamental knowledge about the universe, and the merits of the scientific method.

2008: The International Year of Planet Earth

            The International Year of Planet Earth was held in 2008. It focused on activities that protect the planet's future and improve the standard of life. This event occurred simultaneously with other UN initiatives- the International Year of Languages, the International Year of the Potato, and the International Year of Sanitation.