ABIDJAN, Cote d’Ivoire: World Environment Day 2023 celebrations begin in the host-country Cote d’Ivoire, which lies in West Africa, as millions across the world gear up for similar activities. The capital city of Abidjan has shone the spotlight on this year’s theme, which is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. The purpose of the theme is to persuade people to use alternatives to plastic that will lessen pollution.
A UN Environment Assembly resolution to end plastic waste was signed by 175 UN member nations in March 2022. This has assisted in lowering the manufacture, usage, and disposal of plastics’ greenhouse gas emissions. A binding agreement is expected to be signed in 2024. Measures to decrease single-use plastics, enhance recycling and waste management, and encourage the adoption of sustainable plastic substitutes are also part of the accord.
The event began at Abidjan’s Ébérie Lagoon which is well known as the ‘pearl of lagoons’ but is now plagued with plastic. A few days ago representatives from the Ministry of Environment of Côte d’Ivoire, escorted Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), on a tour of Ébérie where they extensively discussed how the country is continuously working to reduce the pollution level in the lagoon by improving the treatment and management of plastic waste.
Next, they went to Dahliafleur, a large botanical garden in the suburb of Bingerville that is home to 69 bird species and 15 mammal species. Spreads across 148 hectares, the garden is one of the smallest natural reserves in the country.
The delegation’s first stop was at the Abobo Museum of Contemporary Art and Culture, where the UNEP’s Executive Director was welcomed by Francoise Lemarck, Minister of Culture and Francophonie, in an art exhibition. Exhibition, which was being held under the title, ‘Polymers, Art, Plastics’, showcased paintings, sculptures and other artworks made using plastic waste. This was done to showcase the diversity and scale of plastic pollution. Event reported the participation of nearly 100 guests, including Jean Luc Assi, Minister for Environment, Kandia Kamissoko Camara, Minister for Foreign Affairs, other government representatives, UN entities and other local organisations working in the cultural sector.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a meeting on World Environment Day. He conveyed his best wishes to each and every country while highlighting the importance of the theme. In his video message, he further spoke about the efforts the country has made in the last four to five years. He said, “On the one hand, we have banned single-use plastic while on the other hand, plastic waste processing has been made mandatory.”
The PM also spoke about Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) in his concluding remarks. He said that each step taken in the direction of Mission LiFE will become a strong shield for the environment in the years to come. A collection of Thought Leadership for LiFE has also been released on World Environment Day. World Environment Day is observed on June 5 of each year with an aim to inspire millions of people, businesses and governments around the globe towards environment protection and the creation of a more sustainable world. 2023 edition of World Environment Day, supported by the Government of Netherlands, marks the 50th anniversary of the event which is being led by UNEP since 1973.