Fifty years celebrating World Environment Day

June 5, 2023 is the 50th World Environment Day, hosted by Côte d’Ivoire this year. Led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and held annually on 5 June since 1973, the event is the world’s largest public environmental awareness event and is celebrated by millions around the world.

The slogan of this year’s World Environment Day is ” Beat Plastic Pollution”. Plastic is a convenient, cheap and durable material. After more than 100 years of production practice, plastic products have already penetrated into all aspects of human life and are widely used in various fields. However, the overuse and improper disposal of plastics place a huge burden on the environment. The data on plastic pollution is shocking. According to statistics from the United Nations Environment Programme, the world produces more than 400 million tons of plastic every year, half of which is only for one-time use. Of this fraction, less than 10% is recycled. An estimated 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic end up in lakes, rivers and oceans each year. Disposable or incinerated single-use plastics endanger human health and biodiversity, causing direct damage and impact on the entire ecosystem.

Plastic pollution is on the rise, and we can’t just sit back and watch. It is necessary to reduce the use of plastics from the source, strengthen the recycling of plastics from the end point, participate in the cleanup of plastics in action, and form a circular economy model through the joint efforts of all mankind.