Preventing, controlling and managing pollution is central to improving health, human well-being and prosperity for all.
UNEP drives capacity and leadership in sound management of chemicals and waste while working to improve ways to reduce waste through circularity and pollutants released to the air, water, soil and the ocean.
Chile is among the world’s top 10 importers of secondhand clothes—yet over 75% can’t be reused and often ends up dumped or burned. UNEP spoke with Environment Minister Maisa Rojas on tackling textile waste and how policy can help beat waste pollution.
The Policy Podcast is part of the wider initiative ‘Policy action on textiles – A dialogue series facilitated by UNEP’. Alongside UNEA-6, governments called for a global policy dialogue on textiles, facilitated by UNEP. They agreed that the dialogue series should be government-led, inclusive and address various aspects of circularity in textiles.
The 2025 cycle of the Champions of the Earth nominations is open to 30 April 2025. This year's award spotlights outstanding climate action focusing on solutions on methane, buildings and construction, sustainable cooling including energy efficiency, clean air, and forests.
In the lead-up to the establishment of a science-policy panel (SPP) to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution, this series of webinars and events is organized by the ad hoc open-ended working group (OEWG) Secretariat and the Geneva Environment Network to build bridges and promote collaboration and knowledge sharing between and among stakeholders, and to raise public awareness about the OEWG preparing proposals for the establishment of the panel.
The Road to OEWG 3.2 series is currently ongoing. The secretariat has also organized an Information session on the Foundational Document and Rules of Procedure.
On the margins of the Second WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Cartagena, UNEP hosted the first meeting of the Global Air Quality Cooperation Network, established in response to UNEA Resolution 6/10.
The event brought together 110+ participants from Member States, UN entities and other partners to explore how international cooperation can fast-track clean air action.
Participants highlighted opportunities for joint advocacy, regional collaboration, and capacity development - all while supporting countries to avoid harmful and polluting development paths. UNEP will now follow up with next steps, including setting up working groups and regular communication with the Network.
“Dressing to kill could kill the planet,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, commemorating the International Day of Zero Waste 2025.
He warns of fashion’s heavy toll on the planet—urging governments to act, and businesses to move beyond greenwashing and embrace real change to beat waste pollution.
Tengeneza Café is a community workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, where people come together to mend, swap, and reimagine their clothes. It’s about creativity, care, and choosing repair over waste.
This Zero Waste Day and every day, let’s work to beat waste pollution one piece of clothing at a time.
This video has been produced with support from the United Nations Africa Renewal team.
As global leaders in human, animal, plant and ecosystem health, the Quadripartite collaboration reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advancing the One Health approach.
This integrated approach is essential to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, plants, and ecosystems and to address health risks at the human-animal-environment interface. Meeting at WOAH headquarters in Paris for the Third Quadripartite Executive Annual Meeting, we call for urgent, strategic, and sustained support and investments to scale up One Health implementation worldwide.
Read the full joint statement.
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As the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention and the Secretariat of the Global Mercury Partnership, released a set of messages for public use and engagement that highlight the urgent need to stop the production and use of skin-lightening products containing mercury and other hazardous substances.
Despite being regulated by the Minamata Convention, mercury-added products continue flooding markets as many countries face challenges in enforcing the regulations. Stronger and effective policies and legal frameworks on a national level, particularly to control online sales, are essential, say experts. The efforts must also focus on destigmatizing darker skin color and holding companies accountable for promoting harmful beauty standards, they add.
All around the world, from Asia to Africa to Europe, the pressure to have lighter skin is considered deeply rooted in beauty standards, and often shapes self-worth, social interactions and opportunities. Some observers say this colourism is reinforced by today's social media platforms where the new generations are exposed to unattainable beauty standards from a very young age.
Apenas 12% das cidades tem níveis de qualidade do ar compatíveis aos padrões de qualidade da OMS.
