BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 5. On June 5, World Environment Day was celebrated on Jeju Island, hosted by the Republic of Korea. This annual global event, organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), focused this year on the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution,” encouraging collective action to reduce plastic waste and advance the transition to a circular economy, Trend reports.
Azerbaijan was represented by a delegation led by Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Umayra Taghiyeva, alongside officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, and the Azerbaijani Embassy in South Korea.
Umayra Taghiyeva spoke at both the opening ceremony and the High-Level Ministerial Roundtable on Actions for the Circular Economy. She highlighted Azerbaijan’s positive experiences in the environmental field and emphasized the historic achievements made under Azerbaijan’s presidency at last year’s 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) held in Baku. The delegation also held bilateral meetings and participated in sessions and thematic exhibitions with international organizations, business leaders, development banks, and civil society representatives to discuss global environmental challenges.
Looking ahead, Azerbaijan is set to host World Environment Day in 2026, with the event dedicated to addressing climate change. This important occasion will not only highlight Azerbaijan’s contributions to international environmental cooperation but also promote the outcomes of COP29 and create synergy with the 13th World Urban Forum, which will also take place in Azerbaijan next year.
At the event in Korea, the official handover ceremony took place, formally designating Azerbaijan as the host of World Environment Day 2026. This marked the beginning of the joint preparations between Azerbaijan and UNEP for this prestigious event.
World Environment Day was established at the 1972 UN Conference in Stockholm and has since become the world’s largest environmental campaign. First observed in 1973, it has grown into a global platform that unites millions of people across more than 150 countries. Through this platform, individuals, governments, businesses, and organizations share their efforts to protect the environment and raise awareness about critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and the conservation of air and water resources.