World Environment Day 2023

Celebrate World Environment Day 2023 on 5 June!

Seize this opportunity to highlight your solution(s) to #BeatPlasticPollution, and inspire - or learn from - action to address plastic pollution all around the world. 

World Environment Day 2023 is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matter. The steps governments and businesses are taking to tackle plastic pollution are the consequence of these actions. Speaking out and pushing for change has sparked policy milestones, like plastic bag bans, innovations in alternatives to single-use plastic packaging, mobilized finance for sustainability, and led to the push for a global agreement to end plastic pollution.

It is time to accelerate this action.

Under #BeatPlasticPollution, World Environment Day 2023 provides a critical opportunity to raise the volume on the call for governments, cities and businesses to invest in and implement solutions to end plastic pollution.

The World Environment Day campaign will showcase the inspiring and innovative work across the globe to eliminate the use of avoidable and problematic plastic products, particularly single-use plastics, and will also demonstrate more sustainable and circular business models.

And the political momentum is building: Transboundary in nature, plastic pollution needs coordinated international action. In early 2022, representatives from UN Member States endorsed an historic resolution at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) to end plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding plastics agreement. They will meet in May 2023 to continue the negotiations with the intention to complete the process by 2024.

There are many ways to join the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign!

1. Host an event or action for 5 June

From schools and community groups to cities and governments, everyone is encouraged to host and register a #BeatPlasticPollution event or action in their community around 5 June for World Environment Day.

Participants can put their activity on the World Environment Day map, and receive a registration card. They can also spread the word and inspire others by taking photos and sharing the moment using the tags #BeatPlasticPollution and #WorldEnvironmentDay.

2. Inspire change through social media

Join the #BeatPlasticPollution movement by sharing UNEP’s World Environment Day assets (videos, graphics, stickers) showcasing solutions and best practices.

• Use your social media channels to acknowledge and promote those who are creating real solutions to plastic pollution.

1. Take a photo or video of the solution.

2. Share it on your social media and tag a government representative, municipality, business, community organization or your friends, colleagues, and other people in your network with the line:

Hi @...... thank you for doing better to #BeatPlasticPollution this #WorldEnvironmentDay!

• Call out and challenge politicians, municipalities, companies and civil society groups to join the movement to overcome plastic pollution.

1. Take a photo or video of something problematic, such as unnecessary or avoidable use of plastic in products or packaging, poor waste management of plastics, or plastic pollution in your community.

2. Share it on your social media and tag a relevant government representative, municipality, business or organization, and encourage them to do better by saying:

Hi @...... please do better! This is harmful for people and the planet. Help us #BeatPlasticPollution this #WorldEnvironmentDay!

Côte d’Ivoire as World Environment Day

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Background: About World Environment Day 

Over the past five decades, the day has grown to be one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach. Tens of millions of people take part along with governments, companies, cities and community organizations.

2023 is the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day. This year the host is Côte d'Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands and we spotlight solutions to plastic pollution. 

About Plastic pollution

• An estimated 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste is dumped in lakes, rivers and seas annually. Discarded or burnt single-use plastic harms human health, the economy, the environment and threatens sustainable development.
• Microplastics –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.
• Throughout its life cycle, plastic contributes to climate change. About 98 per cent of single-use plastic products are produced from virgin fossil fuels and plastics generate over 3 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.