On June 5, 2023, people worldwide—individuals, communities, civil societies, businesses, and governments—came together to celebrate World Environment Day, focusing on finding solutions to plastic pollution.

This year's event was especially timely as the second round of negotiations for a global treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution had just concluded in France. The host country, Côte d'Ivoire, also celebrated the day with an official event in Abidjan.

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, a tradition established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. Over the past five decades, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has made World Environment Day one of the largest environmental awareness campaigns globally, with millions participating online and offline in activities and events around the world.

Plastic Pollution and the Climate Crisis

UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the issue of plastic pollution during the event. "Plastic is a fossil fuel product—more plastic production means more fossil fuels are burned, which worsens the climate crisis. But we have a solution," he said. He emphasized the importance of global cooperation, calling on governments, companies, and consumers to break their dependence on plastic, advocate for zero waste, and create a true circular economy.

Steps Taken by Côte d'Ivoire

At the official event in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Jean-Luc Assi, highlighted the country's efforts to combat plastic pollution. "In 2013, Côte d'Ivoire implemented a law banning the production, importation, sale, and use of plastic bags. This law has supported businesses in switching to reusable and biodegradable packaging," Assi said. Abidjan, the country's largest city, has become a hub for startups dedicated to fighting plastic pollution.

Global Cooperation and Urgency

Dutch Minister for the Environment, Vivianne Heijnen, also spoke about the urgency of addressing plastic pollution. "Plastic pollution touches on three major challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution," she said. "We need to continue raising awareness, sharing best practices, and ensuring that all stakeholders are involved. I hope this year's World Environment Day will mark a milestone in our collective fight against plastic pollution."

The Scale of Plastic Pollution

Each year, humans produce more than 430 million tons of plastic, two-thirds of which are short-lived products that quickly become waste. The social and economic costs of plastic pollution range between $300 billion to $600 billion annually. UNEP's recent report, "Breaking the Plastic Cycle," shows that through policy and market changes, countries and businesses can reduce plastic pollution by 80% by 2040.

Taking Action Globally

In a message from Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of UNEP, she urged, "We must redesign the way we produce, use, recycle, and manage plastic. The way the world produces, consumes, and disposes of plastic has created a disaster. But we can end it by cutting the source of plastic pollution. On this World Environment Day, I call on everyone to join this global effort."

The second meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on plastic pollution was held in Paris, where the committee drafted an initial legal framework for an international treaty on plastic pollution, including marine environmental pollution. The INC's third meeting will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2023.

Plastic Pollution Actions Around the World

Ahead of World Environment Day, momentum for global action against plastic pollution was evident. A map of World Environment Day activities showcased community-driven innovative solutions to reduce plastic pollution. From beach cleanups in Mumbai to sewing workshops in Ghana using cloth bags, to zero-waste music events in Atlanta, hundreds of events were listed on the map.

The International Air Transport Association and UNEP signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to address the sustainability challenges in the aviation industry. The initial focus of the partnership is on reducing problematic single-use plastic products and improving the circularity of plastic use in the industry.

In Barcelona, UNEP and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) signed an MOU to focus on raising environmental and sustainability awareness in public transport networks.

In Kyrgyzstan, the village of Jyrgalan recently opened its first waste collection facility to address the growing waste problem caused by tourism development.

In Panama, the government, UN offices, and civil society, including youth organizations, are working to reduce plastic waste in their offices and communities.

In Greece, thanks to training provided by the non-profit organization Enaleia, fishermen at 42 ports no longer litter but instead use their nets to collect marine plastics. Enaleia, co-founded by UNEP's European Youth Earth Guardian Lefteris Arapakis, has recently expanded its efforts to Egypt, Spain, Kenya, and Italy.

Plastic Waste Reduction Initiatives

In Kenya, the Kenya Plastics Pact released new industry guidelines on the recyclability of plastic packaging, providing clear recommendations for decision-makers on designing plastics that are compatible with future recycling infrastructure.

In New York, an art project made entirely of plastic waste will be displayed at the World Trade Center. In India, celebrities have come together to produce a music video encouraging people to take action against plastic pollution. Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, a local band, Great Steppe, released a music video to raise awareness about the environmental damage to the Aral Sea.

Across the globe, including in airports and transport networks in China, Indonesia, Chile, and the United States, and on billboards in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus, the message of World Environment Day was broadcast to millions of passengers and citizens, raising awareness of the urgent need to act on plastic pollution.

Social Media and Community Involvement

On social media, hundreds of thousands of people participated in World Environment Day activities. On June 5, the hashtags #WorldEnvironmentDay and #BeatPlasticPollution were trending on Twitter, ranking as the top two hashtags. More than 50,000 people downloaded UNEP's "Beat Plastic Pollution Action Guide."

These activities show how individuals and communities can drive environmental action. They also highlight the critical role of governments, cities, financial institutions, and industries in investing in large-scale solutions to tackle and reverse the plastic pollution crisis.

Let's all join hands, Lykkers, in this fight to reduce plastic pollution and help protect our planet.