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12 July: what is celebrated today
12 July is a date marked by two complementary views of our time. On one hand, an ethical and emotional call not to give up in the face of uncertainty. On the other, a very concrete reminder of environmental challenges already affecting millions. Hope and prevention come together in the calendar.
International Day of Hope
In 2025, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 12 July as the International Day of Hope. The decision comes in a global context marked by wars, climate crises, inequalities and a widespread sense of the future’s fragility.
For the United Nations, hope is neither an abstract nor a naive concept. It is understood as a universal aspiration, linked to well-being, peace, social justice and human dignity. A driving force that encourages people and nations to continue defending rights and building alternatives.
The resolution stresses that there can be no sustainable development without hope. Eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities and promoting fairer growth also means attending to the emotional and human dimension of societies.
Celebrating this day means turning hope into a conscious act: encouraging dialogue, supporting the most vulnerable groups and remembering that, even in the most adverse contexts, hope can be a form of resistance.
International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms
12 July also marks the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, established by the UN in 2023 in response to the increase in these extreme phenomena around the world.
Sand and dust storms do not only reduce visibility. They seriously affect health, degrade soils, accelerate desertification and put food security at risk. Their frequency is closely linked to climate change, drought and land degradation.
The day seeks to strengthen early warning systems, improve international cooperation and promote policies that mitigate their effects. It also recalls the importance of prevention and of listening to science to protect the most exposed populations.