FORUM: "Solutions to plastic pollution." World Environment Day 2023. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental issues facing the planet. Humanity produces over 430 million tonnes of plastic every year - two-thirds of which are short-lived products which soon become waste. This has devastating consequences for wildlife, ecosystems, human health and the global economy. The good news is that momentum is building towards a more sustainable, circular economy for plastics. Some progress is being made, with a historic resolution passed last year at the United Nations Environment Assembly to end plastic pollution and agree on a legally binding agreement by the end of 2024. But there is much left to do, which will involve every section of society playing its part.
Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldEnvironmentDay, #5june, #BeatPlasticPollution.
2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day after it was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. Over the past five decades, the day has grown to be one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach. Tens of millions of people participate online and through actions on the ground. “The scourge of plastic pollution is a visible threat that impacts every community around the world," said Jean-Luc Assi, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. “As host of World Environment Day 2023, we welcome all sectors, from governments and businesses to civil society, to come together to find and champion solutions.” Côte d'Ivoire has banned the production and use of plastic bags, supporting a shift to reusable packaging. The city of Abidjan has become a hub for start-ups tackling plastic pollution, including initiatives such as repurposing plastic waste to build classrooms. 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every single year, half of which is single-use plastics. Use-once-and-discard plastic is feeding an escalating global crisis that is finally capturing the world’s attention. Discarded or burnt single-use plastic harms human health and biodiversity and pollutes every ecosystem from mountain tops to the ocean floor. Its toll on the global economy is estimated at US$80 billion to US$120 billion a year. Produced almost entirely from virgin fossil fuel, greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, use and disposal of single-use plastics is forecast to swell to 19 percent of the global carbon budget by 2040. The industry will account for 20% of oil consumption by 2050. A key way to solve the plastic pollution emergency is to deploy a comprehensive circular approach to the lifecycle of plastic products. Plastic introduced into the economy should remain there, while problematic and unnecessary plastic items must be eliminated and substituted with sustainable materials that are reusable. This year’s World Environment Day will be supported by the Government of the Netherlands, which is one of the countries taking ambitious action along the plastic lifecycle. It is a signatory of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and a member of the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter. “Plastic pollution and its detrimental impacts on health, the economy and the environment cannot be ignored. At the same time, it can also not be resolved using false solutions,” said Vivianne Heijnen, Netherlands’ Minister for the Environment. “The Netherlands and the European community at large are fully committed to reduce the production and consumption of single-use plastic, which can and must be replaced with durable and sustainable alternatives.” The announcement today follows a resolution at the United Nations Environment Assembly last year to develop a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution. “We would like to see all stakeholders align behind a new, common vision where plastics are kept at their highest value in the economy and out of the environment,” said Ms. Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director. “Côte d’Ivoire and the Netherlands are among a number of countries rising to this challenge to end plastic pollution. This year’s significant celebration of the 50th World Environment Day is an opportunity for all governments, businesses, community groups, and individuals to join this momentum.”
Further Resources
EVENTS: The global observance o World Environment Day 2023 will be held on 5 June and will focus on solutions to plastic pollution.
2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day after it was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. Over the past five decades, the day has grown to be one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach. Tens of millions of people participate online and through actions on the ground. “The scourge of plastic pollution is a visible threat that impacts every community around the world," said Jean-Luc Assi, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. “As host of World Environment Day 2023, we welcome all sectors, from governments and businesses to civil society, to come together to find and champion solutions.” Côte d'Ivoire has banned the production and use of plastic bags, supporting a shift to reusable packaging. The city of Abidjan has become a hub for start-ups tackling plastic pollution, including initiatives such as repurposing plastic waste to build classrooms. 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every single year, half of which is single-use plastics. Use-once-and-discard plastic is feeding an escalating global crisis that is finally capturing the world’s attention. Discarded or burnt single-use plastic harms human health and biodiversity and pollutes every ecosystem from mountain tops to the ocean floor. Its toll on the global economy is estimated at US$80 billion to US$120 billion a year. Produced almost entirely from virgin fossil fuel, greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, use and disposal of single-use plastics is forecast to swell to 19 percent of the global carbon budget by 2040. The industry will account for 20% of oil consumption by 2050. A key way to solve the plastic pollution emergency is to deploy a comprehensive circular approach to the lifecycle of plastic products. Plastic introduced into the economy should remain there, while problematic and unnecessary plastic items must be eliminated and substituted with sustainable materials that are reusable. This year’s World Environment Day will be supported by the Government of the Netherlands, which is one of the countries taking ambitious action along the plastic lifecycle. It is a signatory of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and a member of the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter. “Plastic pollution and its detrimental impacts on health, the economy and the environment cannot be ignored. At the same time, it can also not be resolved using false solutions,” said Vivianne Heijnen, Netherlands’ Minister for the Environment. “The Netherlands and the European community at large are fully committed to reduce the production and consumption of single-use plastic, which can and must be replaced with durable and sustainable alternatives.” The announcement today follows a resolution at the United Nations Environment Assembly last year to develop a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution. “We would like to see all stakeholders align behind a new, common vision where plastics are kept at their highest value in the economy and out of the environment,” said Ms. Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director. “Côte d’Ivoire and the Netherlands are among a number of countries rising to this challenge to end plastic pollution. This year’s significant celebration of the 50th World Environment Day is an opportunity for all governments, businesses, community groups, and individuals to join this momentum.”
Learn the facts about plastics from IPCC’s #ClimateReport
- Demand for plastic has been growing strongly since 1970
- > 99% reliant on fossil fuels to produce
- High emissions from petrochemical processes
- Very low recycling
Take our quiz to test your knowledge on plastic pollution.
Further Resources
- Resource: Turning off the Tap: how the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy
- UNEPFI: Pollution and Circular Economy
- Interactive: Beat Plastic Pollution
- UNEPFI: Financing Circularity: Demystifying Finance for the Circular Economy
- Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution
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