Today (Monday 5 June) is World Environment Day and this year the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is asking us to join the global effort to #BeatPlasticPollution.
Led by UNEP, World Environment Day has been held annually since the 5 June 1973, and is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach, and celebrated by millions of people across the world.
It is a reminder that people's actions on plastic pollution matter and emphasises the need to accelerate action and transition to a circular economy.
Plastic pollution
More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide, half of which designed to only be used once. Of that, less than 10% is recycled.
An estimated 19 to 23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually, which is approximately the weight of 2,200 Eiffel Towers all together.
Microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter, find their way into food, water and air. It is estimated that each person on the planet consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles per year, and many more if inhalation is considered.
Discarded or burnt single-use plastic harms human health biodiversity, and pollutes every ecosystem from mountain tops to the ocean floor.
With available science and solutions to tackle the problem, governments, companies and other stakeholders must scale up and speed actions to solve this crisis.
Why take part in World Environment Day?
Time is running out and nature is in emergency mode, and to keep global warming below 1.5°c this century, we must halve annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Without action, exposure to air pollution beyond safe guidelines will increase by 50% within the decade, and plastic waste flowing into aquatic ecosystems will nearly triple by 2040.
However a shift to a circular economy can:
Numerous actions are being taken by governments, cities, finances, businesses, NGOs, academia, civil society and individuals. You can find out what is going on near you this World Environment Day, or register your own activity, by browsing this map.
For more information on this subject, see:
