By Koh Hyunjeong

The nation in 2025 will host World Environment Day for the first time in 28 years.

The Ministry of Environment on Sept. 25 said the country was named host of the event's 54th edition on Sept. 20 at a high-level meeting with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the latter's office in New York.

Observed each year on June 5, World Environment Day was established by the UN Conference on the Human Environment in 1972 to promote global awareness of and efforts toward environmental preservation. Korea's first hosting of this event came in 1997.

The ministry said it considers the 2025 edition an opportunity to raise awareness of the international community about the importance of ending plastic pollution, as Korea will host the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution in the second half of next year.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said, "Strong partners and strong partnerships are the backbone of environmental multilateralism, and UNEP is grateful to the Republic of Korea for taking up the mantle of hosting World Environment Day 2025 in the pursuit of an end to plastic pollution."

Minister of Environment Han Wha-jin added, "World Environment Day in 2025 will be a watershed moment for the conservation of the global environment as we expect to have concluded the global plastic agreement. As the host country of the 2025 World Environment Day, the Republic of Korea will lead international efforts to prevent plastic pollution."

hjkoh@korea.kr