In most countries, World Environment Day has drawn to a close. And what a celebration it has been.

Thousands of events were held around the world while millions of people participated online, shining a spotlight on solutions to the climate crisis.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres used the day to call on countries to transition away from fossil fuels while protecting natural spaces and helping communities already struggling with climatic upheaval. “This is the moment to act – for our environment and for our future,” he said in a video message.

In Azerbaijan, this year’s World Environment Day host, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rashad Ismayilov urged countries to act quickly to stem greenhouse gas emissions and keep alive the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. “The science is clear: every fraction of a degree of warming costs lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems – and no country is spared,” he said. 

A parade of other political leaders voiced their support for World Environment Day, including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the Dalai Lama, who wrote: “This is our only world. We must protect it.”

Some of the planet’s biggest celebrities also joined the call to safeguard the natural world. The list included actors Pierce Brosnan, Jason Momoa and Antoinette Taus, K-Pop star Mark Lee, rapper Frida Amani, DJ Tom Taus and supermodel Amber Valetta, 

Above all, World Environment Day is about mobilizing the public to take action for the planet. And boy did the public respond. More than 2,200 events were held around the world, from a Wikipedia edit-athon in Nairobi to a dance mob in New York.

Many took part in UNEP’s Global Limbo Challenge, which called on people around the world to do the classic dance move to Deep Down by Brazilian musician Alok, UNEP’s newest Goodwill Ambassador. The campaign – meant to raise awareness about the need to lower global temperatures – went viral, with everyone from soccer stars to soccer moms showing just how low they can go.

All of this helped spread the word about World Environment Day far and wide. By the halfway mark of 5 June, content related to the celebration had reached 57 million people online, with more than 1 million engagements. Just over 20,000 articles were published about World Environment Day across 139 countries.

For many, the day drew attention to the climate crisis at a pivotal time.

“The planet is sending us signals – heatwaves, droughts, floods – harming us all, especially the most vulnerable,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. “We must act on climate change as though our lives depend on it. Because they do.” 

Geneva has lit its famed Jet d’Eau – which can shoot water 140 metres into the air – green to mark World Environment Day in what has become an annual tradition.

On 5 June, music and climate action came together in a shared energy. Radio NRJ launched a new edition of NRJ Green Live in Rennes (France), bringing together nearly 500 young people who danced to the sets by DJs Blasterjaxx, Lumberjack and Oriska. Driven by the DJs’ performances, the crowd turned the festive atmosphere into a powerful show of support for the planet. Marking the day, the event also kicked off Surfrider Foundation’s fundraising campaign,  an initiative designed to drive easy-to-adopt change and inspire a new generation to engage in environmental action.

In collaboration with the United Nations, the event also sparked an awareness campaign broadcast across the NRJ network in Austria, Belgium, France and Germany. From 29 May to 5 June, on-air and online activations promoted climate action, reaching more than 5 million daily listeners across Europe. 

More information: NRJ soutient le World Environment Day face au changement climatique

Organized by UNEP, the Food and Agriculture Organization and Wikimedia Chile, this initiative brings together volunteers and environmental advocates to strengthen climate and sustainability content on Wikipedia.
Reliable, up-to-date information is essential for informed decision-making, say organizers. By improving articles, adding trusted sources and closing knowledge gaps, participants are helping ensure that environmental information remains accessible, accurate and evidence-based for Spanish-speaking audiences.

On World Environment Day 2026, the Yangzhou Municipal Federation of Trade Unions and the Yangzhou Urban Management Bureau hosted a training session to help sanitation workers stay safe during extreme heat.

The event brought together meteorological and medical experts to share practical guidance on:

• Understanding heat warnings and extreme weather risks
• Adjusting outdoor work schedules during peak heat
• Recognizing the signs of heat stress and heatstroke
• First aid and emergency response measures
• Everyday actions to stay safe in high temperatures

As cities face rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves, protecting outdoor workers is essential. The training also included the distribution of cooling kits and reinforced commitments to heat protection measures and worker welfare.

2.4 billion workers - over 70 per cent of the global workforce - are exposed to excessive heat each year. Outdoor workers help keep cities running every day. Supporting their health, safety and resilience is a critical part of adapting to a hotter world.

See how other cities are beating the heat. 

For World Environment Day, through the high-engagement track of 50@50, 15 cities have committed to conducting heat assessments, stress-testing infrastructure, and integrating heat resilience into long-term planning. Cities taking part include Antalya, Barcelona, Barranquilla, Campinas, Fortaleza, Gaziantep, Kisumu, Lagos, Melbourne, Nagpur City, Paris, Teresina, UN City Copenhagen, Warsaw, and Yangzhou.

These cities are going beyond individual projects and rethinking how entire urban systems respond to heat. Their work shows that adaptation is not just about responding to heatwaves; it is about preparing cities for the decades ahead. Learn more.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney voiced his support for World Environment Day, reaffirming his country’s commitment to protecting the “forests, oceans, mountains, rivers, and wildlife that sustain us.” He was among a chorus of leaders who today spoke about the importance of tackling climate change and reviving the natural world.

See his posts on Facebook and Instagram

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen held a conversation today with young people about climate change at one of Azerbaijan’s best know tourist sites, Yanar Dag, or Fire Mountain. Located just outside the capital, Baku, the site is home to a naturally occurring gas blaze that has been burning for decades.

Among other things, Andersen spoke about how rising global temperatures and extreme heat are forcing a return to the building techniques of yore.

“Ask your grandfather, your grandmother, what houses were like in the 1920s and 1930s. They were built to work with the wind and with nature,” she said when asked about how cities can become more resilient to climate change. “We've kind of forgotten that, but now many engineers are beginning to rediscover that history.”

For World Environment Day, 24 cities from all around the world are joining the Medium Engagement track of UNEP's 50@50 activation, turning heat resilience into a public conversation through events, installations, workshops, exhibitions, and community activities. These cities include Balikesir, Bauchi, Belo Horizonte, Bom Jesus do Itabapoana, Buenos Aires, Contagem, Corumbá, Florianópolis, Iloilo City, Jakarta, Jiaxing, Lahore, Maranguape, Mendoza, Montreal, Mumbai, Poá, Santiago de Cali, Santiago, Santo André, São João de Meriti, São Lourenço do Sul, Sorocaba, and Tirana.

These actions matter because, by creating hands-on experiences, from cooling islands and school projects to heat resilience workshops, these cities are helping residents understand heat risks and discover practical solutions before emergencies occur. Learn more.

In an interview with the UN's Africa Renewal site, UNEP's Rose Mwebaza talks about how countries can strengthen climate resilience, protect natural resources and unlock green opportunities for the continent's growing population.

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