Jeju: With plastic pollution threatening ecosystems, wildlife, and human health, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) led the 52nd World Environment Day on June 5 with a resounding call to #BeatPlasticPollution.
This year’s official celebrations were hosted in Jeju, Republic of Korea, bringing together governments, businesses, communities, and individuals to spotlight the urgent need for collective action.
Each year, between 19 and 23 million tones of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems, a figure projected to rise by 50 percent by 2040 if no decisive intervention is made.
Plastic is now found in every corner of the planet, from mountain peaks to ocean depths, and in the very air we breathe. On average, a person ingests over 50,000 plastic particles annually, even more, when inhalation is factored in.
Happy #WorldEnvironmentDay!
Join us in celebrating our planet and recognizing the power we all have to protect it.
Every voice matters. Every action counts. Join the movement.
Together, let’s #BeatPlasticPollution. pic.twitter.com/k0uh8xR8KJ
— UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) June 5, 2025
The consequences are deeply interconnected with the climate crisis. If left unchecked, air pollution driven in part by plastic production and waste burning could exceed safe levels by 50 percent within the next decade.
Marine and freshwater plastic pollution may triple by 2040, amplifying the threat to biodiversity and human food systems. This year’s World Environment Day focused heavily on building momentum toward an international, legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. Negotiations are underway, with the next critical round of talks scheduled for August.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling for an ambitious, credible, and just agreement that tackles the entire lifecycle of plastics from design and production to disposal and supports vulnerable communities in the transition.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen reinforced the call for innovation and solidarity. “Ending plastic pollution is possible, but only if nations align behind real solutions,” she said.
Once burdened by waste, the Republic of Korea’s Jeju province is now a model for transforming plastic into economic value through recycling & community action.
See how the host of this year’s #WorldEnvironmentDay is taking action to #BeatPlasticPollution: https://t.co/yG0nk5T3ma pic.twitter.com/xwhMBW1SPh
— UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) June 4, 2025
Since the launch of the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign in 2018, UNEP has worked to promote a just and inclusive shift away from plastic dependence. This aligns closely with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including climate action, life below water, and responsible consumption and production.
With over 2,500 events held globally, World Environment Day 2025 served not just as a day of awareness but as a catalyst for tangible action. The campaign builds toward the upcoming UN Environment Assembly, where hopes are high for the adoption of concrete steps to confront both plastic pollution and the broader climate emergency.
As the world rallies behind the #BeatPlasticPollution movement, the call is clear, the time to act is now, before plastic pollution defines the planet’s future.
