On the occasion of World Environment Day, the European Union reiterated its strong commitment to protecting nature, conserving biodiversity, and addressing environmental challenges. In a message shared by the EU Embassy in Bangladesh on Thursday, the EU emphasized the urgent need for global action to combat climate change and environmental degradation.
World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5 since 1973 under the leadership of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), serves as the world’s largest platform for environmental awareness. The 2025 event will be hosted by the Republic of Korea.
This year’s message highlights the pressing state of the planet: to limit global warming to below 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030. Without immediate intervention, air pollution exposure could rise by 50%, and plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems could nearly triple by 2040.
Currently, 11 million tonnes of plastic waste enter water bodies each year, endangering over 800 marine and coastal species. Microplastics in oceans now outnumber the stars in our galaxy, with the global cost of plastic pollution estimated between $300 billion and $600 billion annually.
The EU’s call to action underlines the need for collective responsibility and sustained efforts to restore and protect the planet for future generations.
