World Environment Day Marked Globally with a Call to 'Beat Plastic Pollution'

World Environment Day is being observed today across the globe under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution: Our Responsibility.” In Nepal, various programs and awareness events are being held to mark the occasion.

Celebrated annually on June 5 since 1973 following a United Nations initiative, this year’s global celebration is being hosted by South Korea. The UN highlights alarming statistics—around 400 million tons of plastic waste are generated globally each year, yet only 10% is recycled. An estimated 11 million tons of plastic end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Today also marks the International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, observed since 2017 at the call of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The FAO reports that illegal fishing results in the annual capture of up to 26 million tons of fish, leading to multi-billion-dollar losses and undermining global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.