World Environment Day (WED), led by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), is an international day to raise awareness and action about the environmental crisis of the modern world and to encourage humans to live sustainable lifestyles.
World Environment Day (WED) is hosted annually in a different country with a specific theme. For 2023, Côte d’Ivoire will host this international day in partnership with the Netherlands, under the theme “Solutions to Plastic Pollution.”
The #BeatPlasticSolution Campaign aims to promote the importance of being aware of the actions individuals can take to minimize plastic pollution, and subsequently contribute to a more sustainable and clean environment.
The first World Environment Day was celebrated in 1973 under the theme “Only One Earth,” and since then, this world day addressed several pressing environmental themes, such as “Only One Future for Our Children” (1979), “A Tree for Peace” (1986), and “For Life on Earth, Save Our Seas” (1998) among many others.
On this occasion, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, addressed a message to the world, in which he called for action to beat plastic pollution.
In this regard, the UN Chief explained that plastic is made from fossil fuels, emphasizing that higher plastic production equals more burnt fossil fuel, subsequently worsening the climate crisis.
Guterres also underlined that minimizing plastic pollution is attainable, as a recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) indicated that plastic pollution can be reduced by 80 % by 2040, as long as we take action and work together towards protecting the environment.
“Together, let us shape a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all,” concluded the UN Secretary-General.
World Environment Day is a day to commemorate and raise awareness of the ongoing effects of global warming and climate change, including the loss of life, property, biodiversity, and resources.
For over 50 years, World Environment Day provided environmental campaigners with a space to educate the public about the importance of protecting our environment and to encourage individuals to take more action to contribute to the preservation of the environment.
We are exploiting our natural resources while simultaneously borrowing them from the next generations.
So keep the water clean, the air fresh, and the environment green!
