Official events
See also: global map of events.
Baku
Date: Friday, 5 June 2026
Location: Baku, Azerbaijan
Special events were held in Republic of Azerbaijan, the 2026 World Environment Day host country. Following speeches from distinguished delegates including the Azerbaijani President H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev and UNEP Executive Director Ms. Inger Andersen among others, a cultural performance with music and dance from Azerbaijani artists, and concluded solo performance by Mark Lee of his unreleased acoustic debut song, “Ready or Not.”
The event was livestreamed globally on UN WebTV and UNEP’s YouTube channel.
Nairobi
Date: Friday, 5 June 2026
Location: UNON Complex, Nairobi, Kenya
Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
UNEP staff, youth, and experienced Wikimedians from the Wikimedia Kenya User Group created, improved, and expanded environmental content across Wikimedia platforms as part of the Wiki for Sustainable Futures initiative which in 2026 focused on "Knowledge to Transform: Water, Food, Energy." Through hands‑on editing, skills‑building, and dialogue, the event supported the UN's broader information integrity work in promoting trusted, evidence‑based information in an evolving digital landscape.
"Answering the Signals: Youth for a Livable Future"
Young people, UNEP personnel and invited environmental experts came together for an interactive event on how people are actively addressing the climate crisis through innovation, creativity, advocacy, and community action. Co-organizers included the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP and UNICEF Kenya.
Film screening and panel discussion
Co-organized with the Nairobi Earth Film Festival, this family-focused event included a screening of the just released documentary Groundswell which looks at how regenerative agriculture approaches can rebuild soil health, draw carbon from the atmosphere, revive biodiversity, improve the nutritional value of our food and strengthen local economies. One of the film's producers, Ryland Englehart, joined a panel discussion on the role of storytelling in addressing the climate crisis.
New York
Date: Friday, 5 June 2026
Location: United Nations Headquarters, New York City
The New York commemoration highlighted the importance of collective and transformative action to tackle climate change. Member States, UN agencies and others shared initiatives that advance the global climate agenda, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience.
Ms. Ligia Noronha, Assistant Secretary-General for Environmental Policy Coordination and Secretary of the Environment Management Group, moderated the event.