Jakarta — Governments, businesses, communities and civil society groups around the world marked World Environment Day 2026 on June 5 with renewed calls for urgent action to tackle climate change, as global temperatures continue to approach record levels and the return of El Niño threatens to worsen climate impacts.
Hosted by Azerbaijan, this year’s World Environment Day focused on accelerating climate action #NowforClimate, highlighting the urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen adaptation efforts to address growing risks from extreme heat and other climate-related disasters.
In a message marking the occasion, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that
“the past eleven years have been the eleven hottest on record… The world is heading for a temporary overshoot above 1.5 degrees.” He said that a temporary overshoot of the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature target is increasingly likely, and urged countries to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, expand renewable energy, reduce methane emissions and deliver climate finance commitments to developing nations.
Speaking at the official celebration in Baku, Inger Andersen said that “we can craft our own story by acting to slow and adapt to climate change – delivering safer, healthier, more prosperous, and more equitable societies for all. But it will take all of us: from the wealthiest nations and individuals, who hold the biggest responsibility for the climate crisis and so can make the biggest difference, to grassroots climate activists and ordinary people.”
While Azerbaijan reiterated its commitment to nearly doubling renewable energy capacity by 2030 and implementing a climate plan aligned with the 1.5°C goal.
More than 2,000 World Environment Day events were registered worldwide this year. UNEP also highlighted growing momentum behind clean technologies through a new policy brief, which found that solar power, electric mobility and sustainable cooling solutions are increasingly becoming mainstream and economically competitive.
World Environment Day is led annually by the United Nations Environment Programme and has been celebrated globally since 1973. (nsh)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2025)
