World Environment Day: Protect Eco-Activists and Save the Caspian Sea

June 4, 2026 Climate and environment

This year, the campaign organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is held under the slogan#СейчасРадиклимата(#NowForClimate) and focused on finding ways to overcome the climate crisis.

Battle for the rescue of the Caspian Sea

One of the central themes of the climate agenda in the region remains the rapid shallowing of the Caspian Sea — the largest enclosed body of water in the world. Its retreat is clearly visible in satellite images: kilometers of exposed sandy shoals cut off sea ports and fishing villages from the water, pushing everything further away from the shoreline.

Scientific forecasts are bleak: there is substantial evidence that the water level will continue to decline significantly over the next 50 years, which will directly affect the lives and well-being of millions of people in five coastal countries. The main catalyst of this process is global warming, which leads to intensive evaporation of water.

In addition to severe economic consequences for humans, a unique ecosystem is under threat. The Caspian Sea is home to several endangered species, including 90 percent of the world’s remaining sturgeon population. Due to the drop in sea level, fish now barely have access to river deltas, where they necessarily have to swim upriver to spawn.

In 2003, all five littoral states signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention), which serves as the basis for environmental protection and sustainable development of the region.

“For many people, the Caspian Sea is a part of identity, memory, traditions, and way of life. Its protection is our common duty. I am convinced that we must act right now – collectively and responsibly – so that this story continues,” emphasized Faig Mutallimov, senior advisor to the Office of the Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on climate issues.

Alarm signals

In his official message on the occasion of World Environment Day, the UN Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterresemphasized that the planet is sending increasingly alarming signals to humanity.

“The last eleven years have been the hottest in the entire history of meteorological observations. The damage caused by this goes far beyond a simple increase in temperature – from polluted air to land degradation, ecosystem destruction, and loss of biodiversity. This harms human health, destroys homes, and exacerbates hunger,” stated the UN chief.

Guterres warned that the world is rapidly moving towards temporaryexceeding the warming threshold by 1.5 degrees. Since every tenth degree brings new destruction – especially for the most vulnerable layers of the population, – the key task of the global community is to minimize this excess and quickly return the indicators to normal.

The only sustainable path to energy security, the Secretary General said, is a sharp reduction in emissions, accelerating the fair transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, as well as a rapid reduction in methane emissions. He also reminded developed countries of the necessity to fulfill their financial obligations to developing countries to save lives and strengthen economies.

Protect the defenders

Speaking at the first European Forum on Human Rights Defenders in the Field of Environmental Protection in Strasbourg, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reminded thatIn Europe, the temperature is rising twice as fast, than the average across the planet. Moreover, 95 percent of residents of European cities are forced to breathe air that does not meet safety standards. More than 80 percent of natural habitats in Europe are in unsatisfactory or critical condition.

At the same time, Türk drew attention to a dangerous paradox: while declaring ambitious ecological goals, some European countries are adopting laws that criminalize peaceful protests by activists. People protecting the future of new generations are judged under articles intended to combat terrorism and organized crime.

Over the past 15 years in Europe, more than 1300 “strategic” lawsuits have been recorded, the purpose of which is to financially exhaust small NGOs and intimidate them so that they give up further actions.

The situation in the world looks even more threatening: in the last three years, the UN Human Rights Office has recorded about 600 cases of murders or disappearances of environmental activists and land defenders. At least in 55 countries around the world, people have been subjected to imprisonment for their environmental activism, and 90 percent of nature defenders have faced persecution and threats on the internet.

“When our home — our planet — is burning, we cannot punish the firefighters who try to extinguish the flames. We must support them and give them the tools of protection — human rights,” Tyorik said.

Cities against extreme heat

As part of the preparations for World Environment Day, UNEP, together with the Paris City Hall, launched a large-scale initiative “50@50”. More than 50 cities worldwide, including Paris, Antalya, Lagos, Melbourne, and Yancheng, have united to counter one of the deadliest climate risks – extreme heat.

Every year, extreme heat waves take about half a million human lives. The “50@50” project is designed to help local leaders more quickly implement proven solutions: “cooling islands” and green zones, drinking fountains and cooling centers, early heat wave warning systems, reflective materials in urban design. During the following year, with the support of UNEP and the C40 climate group, participant cities will conduct stress tests of their systems for resilience to 50-degree heat.