Celebrated every year on June
5, World Environment Day, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), promotes positive eco-action, and creates ideal opportunities for
individuals and communities to understand the importance of world heritage and
environmental protection. This year’s theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution,”
highlights the importance of plastic-free eco-systems, and urges consumers to
reduce their reliance on single-use or disposable plastics.
In line with this year’s
theme, UNEP is encouraging individuals and communities to take action by
focusing on the plastics that go into our natural waterways. Plastic is one of
the biggest pollutants in our oceans today. Every year, the world uses 500
billion plastic bags; every year, at least eight million tons of plastic end up
in the world’s oceans—the equivalent of a full garbage truck every minute—damaging
marine life and threatening human health. The amount of garbage that end up our
waters is growing, and experts predict that the annual amount of plastic trash
tumbling out to our seas, oceans and rivers will more than double in the next
10 years.
