To address the issue of plastic pollution, which is identified as one of the triple threats to the planet along with climate change and biodiversity loss, the international community will gather in Korea. The Ministry of Environment announced that it has formed a task force (TF) and started full-fledged preparations to successfully host the ‘2025 World Environment Day’ event in Jeju from June 2 to 5.
This year’s World Environment Day will focus on the theme of ‘ending plastic pollution,’ co-hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Korean government. World Environment Day is an annual international event held on June 5, where key figures and civil society from around the world participate to affirm their commitment to solving environmental issues. This event is being held in Korea for the first time in 28 years.
The task force, led by Lee Hyung-seop, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Environment, includes officials from related ministries and private experts. They aim to systematically integrate scattered tasks from different departments to enhance planning and execution capabilities for the event.
A major event planned is the adoption of an ‘Action Declaration’ to realize the end of plastic pollution. This declaration is expected to be submitted as a resolution at the 7th United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, in December this year, serving as a basis for urging collective action from the international community.
The event will feature a variety of activities, including international organization discussions, an environmental forum for the future generation, an art contest, an environmental education week, and the Jeju Plus International Environmental Forum, attracting around 2,000 domestic and international participants. These efforts aim to raise awareness about the plastic pollution issue and encourage it to translate into practical action.
Jung Eun-hae, International Cooperation Officer at the Ministry of Environment, said, “To solve the plastic problem, the participation of all sectors and all stakeholders is important, making global engagement essential,” and went on to state, “Through this World Environment Day event, we aim to unite and expand the international community’s commitment to ending plastic pollution.”
This year’s World Environment Day is expected to serve not only as a single event but as a testament to the international resolve in addressing plastic pollution and deriving effective actionable solutions. The event’s outcomes are expected to progress into the Nairobi United Nations Environment Assembly, demonstrating Korea’s global environmental diplomacy capabilities.
