World Environment Day 2025 focuses on ending plastic pollution - in pictures

Communities, businesses and governments around the world observed World Environment Day on Thursday with more than 2,500 events globally.

The theme for 2025 - #BeatPlasticPollution - calls for collective action to tackle the issue. The annual social and environmental cost of plastic pollution ranges from US$300 billion to US$600 billion, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

It said that by 2040, plastic leakage to the environment is predicted to grow by 50 per cent, and that pollution enters our bodies through food, water and the air we breathe.

The World Environment Day ceremony was held in Jeju, South Korea. International leaders, including UAE President Sheikh Mohamed, reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the planet.

In his message for World Environment Day, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: “Plastic waste clogs rivers, pollutes the ocean, and endangers wildlife. And as it breaks down into smaller and smaller parts, it infiltrates every corner of Earth: from the top of Mount Everest to the depths of the ocean; from human brains to human breastmilk.”

“Yet there is a movement for urgent change. We are seeing mounting public engagement, steps towards reusability and greater accountability and policies to reduce single-use plastics and improve waste management. But we must go further, faster,” he added.