June 2023, UNEP International Environment Technology Centre celebrated World Environment Day by hosting a webinar and an event with Kaiyukan Aquarium in Osaka, Japan. The event aimed to raise awareness, inspire action, and mobilize individuals and organizations towards a zero-waste society. Under the theme of “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”, the celebrations brought together participants from various backgrounds and showcased the collective commitment to preserving our planet.
1. Webinar:
"Tackling Plastic Waste: Global progress to drive the transition to a circular economy"
UNEP-IETC has been implementing the project on Sustainable Plastic Waste Management funded by the Government of Japan since April 2023, to combat plastic pollution from the waste management aspect. As part of the project activities, UNEP-IETC organized a WED webinar towards Zero Waste with a special focus on plastic pollution as the Global Centre of Excellence on environmentally-sound waste management for sustainability.
The webinar titled "Tackling Plastic Waste: Global progress to drive the transition to a circular economy" was held on June 6, 2023, as part of the World Environment Day activities organized by UNEP-IETC. It was attended by 129 participants from 59 countries and regions.
The webinar aimed to share expertise and initiatives in addressing plastic waste pollution and promoting a circular economy approach. The event featured key speakers including Ms. Jyoti Mathur-Filipp from the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for Plastics, Dr. Zaigham Abbas from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination in Pakistan, Ms. Mayumi Tsuryu from Seven & I Holdings, Ms. Momona Otsuka from Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center., and Ms. Dea Wehril, co-founder of E[co]work and associate researcher at Empa.
The highlight of the webinar will soon be available on UNEP-IETC’s YouTube channel.
2. Outreach Event
"World Environment Day Event: Where Does Marine Litter Come From? Let's Collect, Investigate, and Think!"
The event took place on June 11th at Kaiyukan Aquarium in Osaka. This collaborative event, organized by Kaiyukan, NPO Osaka Umi-Sakura, Osaka City Environmental Bureau, and GEC, aimed to foster hands-on environmental learning experiences for children.
Participants actively immersed themselves in the event's objectives of "collecting, finding out, and thinking about marine litter." Through lectures delivered by UNEP and Osaka Umi-Sakura, the event provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the current global waste situation. The event went beyond lecture by incorporating practical activities like trash cleanup and on-site observations near the wharf, enabling participants to witness firsthand the flow and causes of trash reaching the sea in Osaka Bay and its impact on marine life.
It inspired attended children and their parents to reflect on their own daily actions and empowered them to become agents of change in creating a zero-waste society.
3. Resource
"Beat Plastic Pollution Practical Guide"
As part of the World Environment Day festivities, UNEP released a comprehensive practical guide on plastic waste. This guide serves as a valuable resource for individuals, NGOs, community groups, science and education organizations, governments, municipalities, finance, business, and industry. It offers holistic information on plastic pollution, covering the scale of the problem, potential solutions, the impact it has, and the progress made at various levels.
The guidebook is designed to cater to a wide audience, ensuring that everyone can access the information and insights it provides. It is available in nine languages, including English and Japanese, facilitating a broader reach and promoting awareness and understanding of plastic waste management on a global scale.
Download from here
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