The Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Korea and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) announced that the special autonomous province of Jeju will host World Environment Day on June 5, 2025.
World Environment Day has been celebrated on June 5 of each year since 1973. Since then, the day has grown to become the world’s largest platform for environmental dissemination.
World Environment Day 2025 will highlight the importance of ending plastics pollution, creating synergies with ongoing negotiations to develop a legally binding international instrument on plastics pollution, including the marine environment, whose fifth session will take place in the Republic of Korea next November.
Jeju, an island famous for being one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in the world, leads the political efforts of the Republic of Korea to combat plastic pollution. It is the first province that has introduced a deposit system for disposable cups in the Republic of Korea, Jeju declared in 2022 its vision of being free of plastic pollution by 2040.
“Jeju Island’s commitment to a future without plastic pollution is perfectly aligned with the objectives of World Environment Day 2025,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.
“By showing off its pristine natural beauty and its innovative environmental initiatives, Jeju will inspire others to take action and safeguard our planet,” he said.
Kim Wan-sup, Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Korea, said that “World Environment Day 2025 will be a key moment for global efforts to end plastic pollution. We will collaborate with the island of Jeju to guarantee the success of the event and position ourselves as a leading country in the fight against plastic pollution.”