Azerbaijan invites global community to join World Environment Day 2026 in Baku

Azerbaijan has officially invited the global community to take part in World Environment Day, which will be held on June 5, 2026, in the capital, Baku.

The announcement was made by Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Umayra Taghiyeva, during this year’s World Environment Day event in Jeju Island of South Korea, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Speaking at the event, she said Azerbaijan was honoured to take over the responsibility from South Korea and continue global efforts to protect the environment.

“We warmly invite the international community to join us in Baku next year,” Taghiyeva said. “Azerbaijan is ready to contribute by sharing experience, working with global partners, and supporting solutions that lead to more sustainable cities and communities.”

In addition to World Environment Day, Azerbaijan will also host the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in 2026. Both events are expected to draw global attention to key issues such as sustainable development, climate action, and smart urban planning.

Taghiyeva highlighted the country’s growing role in international climate efforts. Last year, Baku hosted the COP29 climate summit. As the current COP29 president, Azerbaijan has pledged to keep climate change high on the global agenda.

She noted the country’s support for a new international climate finance target—known as the Baku Financial Goal—and underlined the importance of cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which promotes global carbon markets.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed this year’s event with a video message. He warned that plastic pollution is damaging ecosystems and threatening human health. “Plastic waste is everywhere—from the top of Mount Everest to the depths of the oceans,” he said, urging countries to take stronger action.

World Environment Day 2026 in Baku will continue to focus on these urgent environmental challenges, offering a platform for countries to exchange ideas and promote real solutions.

Note that, World Environment Day is observed every year on June 5 to promote global awareness and action for environmental protection.

Backed by the United Nations and supported by governments, businesses, and civil society, the day serves as a global platform to highlight environmental challenges and solutions.

The 2025 campaign urges collective action to restore ecosystems and tackle plastic pollution, recognising healthy land as vital for food, biodiversity, and climate.

By Aghakazim Guliyev