World Environment Day 2025: Date, Theme, History, Host Country And UN Chief's Message
This year’s theme for World Environment Day is focused on ending plastic pollution globally.
World Environment Day, observed on June 5, is set to be hosted by South Korea this year. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this global event has turned into an annual celebration in many countries since its inception in 1973.
Countries come together on this day to work towards promoting environmental awareness and action. Millions of people worldwide are engaged in various initiatives to support efforts for a healthier planet.
World Environment Day 2025: Theme
This year’s theme for ‘World Environment Day’ is focussed on ending plastic pollution globally.
"Globally, an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems each year, while microplastics accumulate in the soil from sewage and landfills, due to the use of plastics in agricultural products. The annual social and environmental cost of plastic pollution ranges between US$300 billion and US$600 billion," mentions the UNEP official website.
The UN is promoting the event with a hashtag: 'beat plastic pollution' to mobilise communities to implement and advocate for solutions.
World Environment Day 2025 Host Country
After being selected as the host nation for World Environment Day 2025, South Korea remarked, “As the host country of the 2025 World Environment Day, the Republic of Korea will lead international efforts to prevent plastic pollution.”
In 2024, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted the annual event.
World Environment Day, in its five-decade journey, has focused on supporting progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and involves over 150 countries annually in environmental initiatives.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' Message
In his message for World Environment Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is a significant challenge for the world, posing a severe risk to the ecosystems, human health and the climate. Guterres stressed that plastic waste has reached every part of the planet and even the human body. While some steps have been taken to resolve this issue, the UN Chief urged faster progress. He also called on countries to agree on a strong, fair global treaty addressing the full life cycle of plastics.
“In two months, countries will come together to hammer out a new global treaty to end plastic pollution. We need an ambitious, credible and just agreement this year,” he said.
The Republic of Korea hosted the fifth session of the negotiations to develop a plastic pollution treaty in November 2024. The second part of the session will take place from Aug 5-14 in Geneva, Switzerland, as per the UNEP website.
