On 5 June, World Environment Day (WED) was marked by a range of activities and initiatives in Belgium that reflected this year’s theme: #BeatPlasticPollution.

Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), WED is the world’s largest platform for environmental outreach to raise awareness about environmental issues. It brings together millions of people around the world to protect and restore the planet. The 2025 campaign focused on the urgent problem of plastic pollution, encouraging everyone -from individuals to businesses and governments -to change how they use and manage plastic.

In Belgium, diverse actors seized the opportunity to demonstrate a strong dedication to environmental progress, with particular emphasis on reducing plastic waste. Starting 30 May and all the way through 5 June, awareness campaigns and symbolic actions, gave tangible expression to the day’s message. Below is a chronological summary of selected highlights curated by the UNEP Brussels Office:

Awareness on the Streets of Antwerp, Brussels, and Liège

From 30 May to 5 June, eye-catching JCDecaux e-billboards lit up the streets of Antwerp, Brussels, and Liège, broadcasting six-second clips that spotlighted the plastic pollution crisis. These visuals reached millions, encouraging passersby to rethink their plastic use and take action.

CineONU Screening: Ocean with David Attenborough – A Powerful Evening of Awareness and Engagement on 3 June

As part of the momentum toward the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the UN and partners hosted a special CineONU screening of Ocean with David Attenborough in Brussels.

Held on 3 June at Cinema Palace, the event marked both World Environment Day and World Oceans Day. The documentary mesmerized audiences with breathtaking marine footage while highlighting urgent threats like climate change, plastic pollution, and overfishing.

Organised by the UN Regional Information Centre, UNESCO, UNEP, and UN Human Rights, the public screening was joined by high-level guests from the European Commission, UN, and diplomatic missions.

After opening remarks by Veronika Hunt Safrankova (UNEP), a panel discussion followed, featuring director Colin Butfield, UNESCO ocean expert Saara Suominen, EU policymaker Fernando Andersen Guimarães, and UK conservationist Emily Cunningham MBE, along with a Q&A session from the audience.

David Attenborough’s message echoed throughout: “If we save the sea, we save our world.”

Finally, the nearly 400 attendees were encouraged to take action by joining the World Environment Day campaign and the 7th annual EU-UN Beach Cleanup, a global initiative for plastic-free oceans led by DG MARE, EEAS, and the UN.

Read the interview with Director Colin Butfield: https://unric.org/en/ocean-with-david-attenborough-if-we-save-the-sea-we-save-our-world/

Bridging Generations for Change: Ending Plastic Pollution Together

On World Environment Day itself, 5 June, UNEP organised an inspiring Intergenerational Dialogue on plastic pollution, hosted at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels. As an official WED event and part of EU Green Week, the dialogue brought together a dynamic mix of EU policymakers, youth leaders, local and regional authorities, business representatives, and civil society.

The event, opened by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea and the Head of UNEP Brussels Office, explored the full lifecycle of plastics -from their historical development to their environmental impact – and examined global responses such as the INC negotiations. Through cross-generational exchange, participants shared perspectives and co-created actionable ideas for a future free from plastic pollution.

The event concluded with an interactive session with the audience. Key takeaways will be shared at the upcoming European Commission’s “Research and Innovation for a Competitive Green Transition” event later in June.

Brussels Airport: A Message in Transit

All day, thousands of travelers at Brussels Airport were greeted with the message: “Plastic sorted – Earth supported.” Through digital billboards, the airport highlighted its sustainability efforts and encouraged proper waste.

EU Stakeholders Join the Call for Action

Throughout the day, important voices from EU institutions joined the World Environment Day campaign, amplifying the call to tackle plastic pollution and protect our planet.

Among them, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Mr. Tsiodras, Co-Chair of the MEP Group on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, who shared a short video message highlighting the urgency of addressing plastic pollution.
🎥 Watch his message here: Instagram Reel

The campaign also gained momentum across the European Commission and other EU institutional social media channels, reinforcing the message that environmental action starts with awareness and collective effort.

Belgian Cities Shine Green for the Planet on World Environment Day

As night fell, cities across Belgium – Arlon, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Hasselt, Leuven, Liège and Wavre – lit up landmarks in green and/or shared messaging in support of the 2025 World Environment Day campaign, casting a powerful spotlight on the urgent challenges of plastic pollution and climate change. The initiative highlighted the key role of local authorities in fostering environmental awareness and inspiring meaningful action at the community level.

The UNEP Brussels team wrapped up the day admiring the illuminated Brussels City Hall with Alderman for Climate, Frederik Ceulemans, and later the glowing bridge over Rue Belliard at the EU Committee of the Regions (see further below). A beautiful tribute to a day – and a movement – that continues to grow.

What follows is an overview in alphabetical order of the Cities’ initiatives:

In the provincial capital of Arlon, the Palais d’Arlon was illuminated in green to mark World Environment Day. This symbolic gesture invited residents to pause and reflect on their environmental impact.

• Bruges

Often called the Venice of the North, the medieval city of Bruges underscored its environmental commitment by lighting up its town hall in green from 22:00 to 24:00. The gesture served as a visual reminder of the city’s dedication to reducing plastic pollution and promoting environmental action.

• Brussels

In the heart of the capital, Brussels’ historic City Hall lit up in green, offering a striking visual tribute to environmental action. The illumination drew the attention of both locals and tourists, serving as a symbolic and beautiful close to the day’s celebrations, and a reminder of the city’s commitment to sustainability. Alderman, Frederik Ceulemans, used the occasion to highlight the City’s climate strategy after a dedicated canal clean up he organized earlier in the day.

The historic city of Ghent joined the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign by           spotlighting local initiatives aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable living. As part of its commitment, the city illuminated the Planet Group Arena,  a multi-use stadium in the city, and the iconic Boekentoren – a symbol of knowledge and progress -casting it in green to mark the occasion. Through these actions, Ghent reaffirmed its role in steering sustainable urban development.

• Hasselt

In Hasselt, the capital of Belgium’s Limburg province, the town hall glowed green as soon as the sun set, adding a vibrant splash of color to the cityscape. Alderwoman Tine Jans, used the occasion to highlight Hasselt’s environmental goals and reaffirm the city’s commitment to climate action and sustainability.

• Leuven
  

Leuven, the capital of the Flemish Brabant province, made a bold visual statement by lighting up its tallest landmark – the Sint-Maartens tower, standing at 115 meters -in green. The striking display was impossible to miss and served as a powerful symbol of the city’s environmental ambitions.

The city of Liège, in the French-speaking  part of Belgium, Wallonia, the capital of the pronvince of Liège, gave its iconic red Town Hall a green touch on World Environment Day, catching the eye of many residents and sparking reflection on environmental issues. A long-time advocate for sustainability, Liège has been part of the zero-waste network for Walloon cities since 2018 and adopted a zero-plastic policy in 2019. To mark WED, the city invited citizens to sign a charter on its website, outlining practical steps to reduce plastic waste – such as choosing reusable items over single-use products.

Wavre,  the capital of the Walloon Brabant province, also its support to the World Environment Day campaign.

European Regional Authority joins the green light wave

Also in Brussels, the symbolic green wave extended beyond city landmarks to include EU institutions. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) joined the World Environment Day 2025 campaign by lighting up its iconic bridge above Belliard Street in green. As the EU body representing local and regional authorities, the CoR’s gesture underscored the vital role these actors play in tackling plastic pollution. By standing alongside cities across Belgium, the CoR reinforced a powerful message: environmental action must happen at every level, from local to regional and global.