The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is supporting Kazakhstan in tackling waste at a popular mountain area, as new survey results released ahead of World Environment Day show plastic pollution is growing, even in some of the world’s most remote regions.

The Plastic Waste in Remote and Mountainous Areas project, run by the UNEP-hosted Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, has introduced new waste collection points for plastic, glass, paper, and aluminium in the popular Ayusai mountain area near Almaty, visited by up to 3,000 people a day during the summer.

“Mountainous areas like Ayusai are often left behind when it comes to waste infrastructure,” said Aidai Kurmanova, Head of UNEP’s Central Asia Office, in Almaty. “This project shows how local action can make a real difference and heal scars on one of Kazakhstan’s touristic natural treasures.”

Plastic pollution is everywhere. It washes up on the shores of island states and it’s even found in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth. In Fiji, a sunrise clean-up campaign marks the start of World Environment Day celebrations in the Pacific island state, organized by the country’s Ministry of Environment. 

Are you joining an event for this year’s World Environment Day? Explore the event map and get involved in an event near you.

Jeju, a volcanic isle home to 650,000 people, is using a combination of cutting-edge technology and precedent-setting legislation in a bid to stem the flow of plastic waste into the environment by 2040. If the province manages the feat, it will buck a global trend that has seen plastic pollution skyrocket during the last three decades. Jeju is host to this year’s official World Environment Day celebrations.

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On 2 June in New Delhi, India, UNEP hosted a vibrant youth event under the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge (TTPC), celebrating a major milestone: engaging over 1 million young people worldwide in the fight against plastic pollution. The event brought together youth leaders, policymakers, environmental advocates, and UN representatives to spotlight innovative, youth-led solutions and strengthen cross-sector collaboration.

UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza delivered a powerful address, inspiring young participants to lead the movement for a plastic-free future.

Jeju, an island off the southern coast of the Republic of Korea, is hosting this year’s official World Environment Day celebrations. On Monday, teams across the isle were busy preparing for the festivities, which kick into high gear on 5 June. While the official extravaganza will take place in Jeju, there are more than 1,700 other events planned across the globe. Click here to see what’s happening near you.