From June 3 to 17, 2026, the National Fortnight for Environment and Climate (QNEC 2026) places Côte d’Ivoire at the heart of the challenges surrounding ecological transition and citizen eco-responsibility. Working alongside the Ivorian Anti-Pollution Center (CIAPOL), HENDDU is leveraging communication and awareness-raising initiatives to support environmental protection, in particular through the celebration of World Environment Day on June 5.
QNEC 2026 opens under the inspiring theme: "I am an eco-responsible citizen for a just ecological transition." Through this nationwide mobilization, the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition emphasizes that combating pollution, preserving natural resources, and adapting to climate change cannot succeed without the active involvement of every citizen, community, and organization.
At the heart of this initiative, CIAPOL is implementing an ambitious strategic agenda built around three major pillars: the production and sharing of reliable environmental data, community-based awareness campaigns, and the strengthening of operational responses to pollution incidents. The launch of its activities takes place on June 5, 2026, at the Esplanade of Towers A and B in Plateau, through a panel discussion dedicated to the findings of air quality monitoring campaigns. This exchange reflects a strong commitment to informing the public transparently and making environmental science a genuine tool for decision-making and advocacy.
Beginning on June 6, CIAPOL teams will leave conference halls to engage directly with communities. A major awareness caravan against plastic pollution will travel through the main streets of the municipality of Abobo. By meeting residents where they live, this initiative addresses everyday behaviors such as the excessive use of single-use plastics, improper waste disposal, and the lack of sorting and recycling practices. The objective is clear: to turn information into action by demonstrating that every gesture matters and that cleaner cities begin with individual choices.
On the technical and regional level, QNEC 2026 will also feature a high-level workshop held in Abidjan from June 8 to 10, in partnership with international GIWACAF experts. The workshop focuses on the processing and assessment of compensation claims related to marine oil pollution incidents. It prepares the way for the large-scale national PLAN POLLUMAR exercise scheduled from June 11 to 13, 2026, in the San Pedro region, including Grand-Béréby and Tabou. This full-scale simulation, centered on a Level 3 transboundary marine pollution scenario, aims to test the country's response capacity to accidental spills affecting lagoons, the sea, and coastal areas.
Through this exercise, CIAPOL, under the leadership of Professor Bernard Ossey Yapo, strengthens coordination among national authorities, local governments, security forces, economic operators, and international partners. The announced participation of the Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition, Mr. Abou Bamba, reflects the political determination to make environmental security a strategic priority. The message is clear: protecting marine and coastal ecosystems also means protecting the communities and economies that depend on them.
QNEC 2026 also aligns with an international calendar marked by several global observances, including World Environment Day on June 5, World Oceans Day on June 8, the International Day for Biological Diversity, and the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. These milestones remind us that environmental challenges are global, but solutions are first built locally through appropriate public policies and concrete action on the ground.
In this context, World Environment Day holds particular significance. Celebrated annually on June 5, it serves as the United Nations' leading platform for raising awareness and mobilizing global action to protect the environment. The 2026 edition highlights the urgency of climate action and the importance of accelerating solutions to address rising temperatures, ecosystem degradation, and the increasing frequency of extreme events. It reminds governments, businesses, local authorities, and citizens alike that they share the responsibility to act now to preserve the living conditions of present and future generations.
Alongside CIAPOL, HENDDU is committed to making this fortnight a powerful moment of education, recognition, and mobilization. Through the production of content, visual materials, testimonials, and field reports, HENDDU helps make technical environmental issues accessible to the general public. The organization highlights the concrete actions, faces, and initiatives that embody ecological transition on the ground: experts, public servants, local actors, civil society organizations, and committed youth. Together, they demonstrate that eco-responsibility is practiced every day and goes far beyond rhetoric.
By supporting awareness initiatives, amplifying the messages of World Environment Day, and promoting mechanisms such as PLAN POLLUMAR, HENDDU affirms its commitment to serving as a catalyst for positive influence. The objective is twofold: strengthening environmental awareness among the general public and encouraging partners to invest more in sustainable solutions, whether through waste reduction, clean energy, sustainable mobility, or biodiversity conservation.
QNEC 2026 and World Environment Day remind us that eco-responsibility is no longer an option but a collective duty. The actions led by CIAPOL, supported by committed partners such as HENDDU, demonstrate that a just ecological transition depends on ambitious policies, robust technical systems, and continuous citizen engagement. From air quality to marine pollution, from combating plastic waste to preserving ecosystems, every step counts. Today more than ever, becoming an eco-responsible citizen means choosing to protect the environment we wish to pass on to future generations.
