This year’s World Environment Day on 5 June, the 50th anniversary of one of the largest global platforms for environmental public outreach, saw millions of people from around the world come together to raise awareness of solutions to combat plastic pollution.
More than 150 countries participated in this year’s event, hosted by Côte d'Ivoire, with support from the Netherlands.
As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in his World Environment Day message, it will take a whole-of-society approach to tackle plastic pollution. “We must work as one – governments, companies, and consumers alike – to break our addiction to plastics, champion zero waste, and build a truly circular economy.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on governments, companies, and consumers to “break our addiction to plastics” in an address on World Environment Day
Multiple events in Abidjan highlighted Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts to tackle plastic pollution.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen and Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Environment leaders visited the Ébérie Lagoon to discuss efforts to address plastic waste.
In Abidjan, corporate heads from across the continent gathered at the Africa CEO Forum, where solutions to plastic pollution were on the agenda. Françoise Remarck, Minister of Culture and Francophonie, also opened an art exhibit entitled Polymers, Art, Plastics at the Abobo Museum of Contemporary Art and Culture. It featured paintings, sculptures, fashion and other creative artworks using plastic waste.
Around the world, awareness-raising actions, including, beach clean-ups, sporting and community events, highlighted the global momentum toward a life-cycle approach to plastic.
British cyclist Kate Strong set off on a 4,800km journey on a handmade bamboo bike to mark World Environment Day.
Indian film stars and musicians launched the music video TikTik Plastic calling for action on plastic pollution, while UN Peacekeeping Forces from the UK, Argentina and Slovakia collected plastic waste across the UN buffer zone in Cyprus.
Indian film stars and musicians launched the music video TikTik Plastic calling for action on plastic pollution
Airports and transport networks, from China and Indonesia to Chile and the United States, as well as billboards in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus, broadcast World Environment Day messages, bringing awareness of the need to end plastic pollution to millions.
Meanwhile, UN agencies, businesses, sporting bodies and global celebrities such as Karry Wang, Liu Tao, Ellie Goulding, Jason Momoa, Chris Lee, Antonio Banderas, Aidan Gallagher, Antoinette Taus and Dia Mirza used their platforms to call for a rethink in how we design, produce, consume and dispose of plastic.
World Environment Day content was also seen over 200 million times on social media channels across languages and platforms, while the hashtags #WorldEnvironmentDay and #BeatPlasticPollution trended at number one and two, respectively, on Twitter.
The focus of this World Environment Day is particularly timely, following the recent conclusion of a second round of negotiations on a global agreement to end plastic pollution in Paris as part of the International Negotiating Committee process.
For more information on how you can help tackle the plastic pollution crisis, read the Beat Plastic Pollution Practical Guide.
About World Environment Day
World Environment Day on 5 June is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by UNEP and held annually since 1973, the event has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach, with millions of people from across the world engaging to protect the planet.eve
