World Environment day 2023: End plastic pollution

Host: Côte d'Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands

Theme: Solutions to plastic pollution

World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations

Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1973, it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach. It is celebrated by millions of people across the world.

World Environment Day 2023 is hosted by Côte d'Ivoire and supported by the Netherlands and the theme will focus on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution. It is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matters. The steps governments and businesses are taking to tackle plastic pollution .

International Conventions : Paris international forum to end plastic pollution in cities,

The problem of plastic pollution is particularly acute in urban areas, where high population densities and concentrated economic activity generate significant amounts of consumption and waste. 75% of the total plastic waste generation comes from municipal solid waste streams, much of it will end up in landfills, waterways, and the ocean, and significantly contribute to climate change.

Recognizing the positive global impact of a circular economy for plastic and the need for common guidelines to end the plastic pollution crisis, the UN Environment Assembly adopted in March 2022 a landmark resolution titled “End Plastic Pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument”. 

An Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was set up and met for the first time in December 2022.

The second session of the INC will be held in Paris, France, from 29 May to 2 June 2023.

To mark this occasion and contribute to this important process, the City of Paris, with support from UNEP, is organising its first International Forum to End Plastic Pollution in Cities on Friday 26 May (09:00 to 12:00 CET).

This Forum will gather mayors from every continent, scientists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Intergovernmental Organisations and philanthropies committed to fight plastic pollution for a day of exchanges on solutions to minimise the impact of plastics on the planet.

Second session -

The INC-2 will take place at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO) Headquarters, in the heart of Paris.

The rapidly increasing levels of plastic pollution represent a serious global environmental issue that negatively impacts the environmental, social, economic and health dimensions of sustainable development. Under a business-as-usual scenario and in the absence of necessary interventions, the amount of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems could nearly triple from some 9–14 million tonnes per year in 2016 to a projected 23–37 million tons per year by 2040.

More than 1,700 participants – over 700 delegates from 169 Member States and over 900 observers – attended the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution (INC-2), hosted by France at the headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, under the chairmanship of H.E. Gustavo Meza-Cuadra.

The main outcomes include:

Mandate to the Chair to prepare a zero draft of the treaty ahead of INC-3

Secretariat requested to invite submissions on elements not discussed at INC-2, such as the principles and scope of the instrument, and any potential areas for intersessional work compiled by the cofacilitators of the two contact groups, to inform the work of INC-3.

Deadlines: 15 August for observers and by 15 September 2023 for Member States.

Bureau elected | Georgia, Estonia, Sweden, and the US joined as members elected at INC-2

Next venues agreed |

INC-3 in Nairobi, Kenya, INC-4 in Ottawa, Canada, and INC-5 in the Republic of Korea.

• Following discussions on voting rights, agreed on an interpretive paragraph for the Draft Rules of Procedure that apply on a provisional basis to the work of the INC.

Plastic pollution has adverse effects on human health, as microplastics can enter the food chain through seafood and drinking water, potentially causing harm to the human body.

Solutions to Plastic Pollution:

Addressing plastic pollution requires a combination of individual actions, industry efforts, and policy changes.

Here are some solutions being pursued:

Reduce and Reuse: Reducing the consumption of single-use plastics and promoting reusable alternatives can significantly reduce plastic waste. Individuals can opt for reusable bags, bottles, and containers, while businesses can offer eco-friendly alternatives.

Recycling and Waste Management: Improving recycling infrastructure, promoting proper waste management, and implementing effective recycling programs are crucial. Increasing the recycling rates for plastic waste helps prevent it from ending up in landfills or polluting the environment.

And many more!!....

Mains Question: (GS Paper-3: What is Plastic pollution? Give brief explanation of latest international conventions regarding it with data?

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