World Environment Day 2025: Republic Of Korea To Host Global Campaign To ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ News24
World Environment Day 2025 will take place on June 5, and will be hosted worldwide by the Republic of Korea. Under the leadership of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this year’s campaign seeks to address plastic pollution. It calls for action by countries, organisations and individuals so we can work together and protect the planet.
World Environment Day 2025 Theme: Beat Plastic Pollution
The theme for World Environment Day 2025 is “Beat Plastic Pollution.” According to the official UNEP campaign site, “Plastic pollution permeates every corner of the planet—even in our bodies in the form of microplastics. World Environment Day 2025 calls for collective action to tackle plastic pollution.”
UNEP also said, “Republic of Korea will host World Environment Day 2025 with a focus on ending plastic pollution globally. Ridding the planet of plastic pollution is an important contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including those on climate action, sustainable production and consumption, protection of seas and oceans and repairing ecosystems and retaining biodiversity.”
About The 2025 Theme
Plastic pollution is worsening the deadly impacts of the triple planetary crisis (the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature, land and biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste). An estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into the world’s oceans and waterways every year, while microplastics are accumulating in soils from treated sewage and landfills and through the use of plastics in agricultural products.
The average annual social and environmental cost of plastic pollution is estimated to be between US$300 billion and US$600 billion. The observance of World Environment Day this year comes at a time when countries are beginning to advance and negotiate a global treaty to end plastic pollution on land, in water, and in the marine environment. In November 2024, the Republic of Korea hosted the fifth session of negotiations for the development of a global treaty on plastic pollution. Part two of session five will take place from 5-14 August 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
World Environment Day History
World Environment Day was first declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 at the United Nations Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. The first official celebration was in 1973 with the theme “Only One Earth.” Since then, World Environment Day has been an opportunity for global public awareness and outreach that engages more than 150 countries each year.
World Environment Day Importance
World Environment Day is a globally important event for environmental protection. It engages governments, civil society, communities and individuals around the world to take action on climate change, pollution, deforestation and biodiversity loss. The observance is important for motivating action toward creating a more sustainable and cleaner future.