Learn about the global platform for environmental outreach, World Environment Day, and mark your calendars for its 50th anniversary celebration hosted by Côte d’Ivoire on June 5, 2023.
World Environment Day is a global platform for environmental outreach that was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. It has since grown to become one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach, with tens of millions of people participating online and through in-person activities, events, and actions around the world. On June 5, 2023, Côte d’Ivoire will host World Environment Day with the theme of solutions to plastic pollution, marking the 50th anniversary of the event.
What is the theme for World Environment Day 2023, and why is it important?
The theme for World Environment Day 2023 is solutions to plastic pollution, which is a visible threat that impacts every community around the world. More than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once, and less than 10 per cent is recycled. Microplastics, tiny plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter, find their way into food, water, and air. Discarded or burnt single-use plastic harms human health and 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.
What is the role of the Netherlands in supporting World Environment Day 2023?
The Government of the Netherlands will support World Environment Day 2023, which will be one of the countries taking ambitious action along the plastic lifecycle. It is a signatory of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and a member of the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter. The Netherlands is also a member of the High Ambition Coalition calling for a strong and ambitious international legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution.
What is the goal of the legally binding instrument on plastic pollution?
The goal of the legally binding instrument on plastic pollution is to address the full life cycle of plastic, including in the marine environment. The resolution to develop this instrument was adopted in 2022 at the United Nations Environment Assembly, with the ambition to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024. The first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-1) was held in Uruguay in December, and the second meeting is expected to be held in Paris in 2023.
