Jeju: As the world marks the 52nd World Environment Day, alarming figures from the United Nations highlight the scale of the global plastic crisis. Annually, 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced, with half intended for single use and only 10 percent successfully recycled. An estimated 19 to 23 million tonnes of this waste find their way into aquatic ecosystems every year—a number projected to rise by 50 percent by 2040 if urgent intervention is not undertaken.
Plastic pollution has become a pervasive threat, infiltrating ecosystems, endangering wildlife, and posing significant risks to human health. Microplastics have been detected in food, drinking water, and the air we breathe. Current estimates suggest that an average person consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles annually—a number that increases sharply when airborne plastics are considered.
Experts warn that if left unaddressed, the growing plastic problem could exacerbate the climate crisis. Within the next decade, air pollution levels driven in part by plastic production and waste could surge beyond safe limits by as much as 50 percent. Additionally, pollution in freshwater and marine ecosystems could triple by 2040.
This year’s World Environment Day, hosted in Jeju by the Republic of Korea, centers around the theme #BeatPlasticPollution, reinforcing a UNEP-led initiative launched in 2018. The campaign advocates for a fair and inclusive shift away from plastic reliance, pushing for practical solutions and systemic change.
Governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals are uniting in a shared commitment to environmental restoration and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly those related to climate resilience and sustainable resource use.
At the heart of this year’s observance is a growing international effort to establish a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. Countries are engaged in active negotiations, with the next round of discussions slated for August.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized the need for an “ambitious, credible and just agreement” that comprehensively tackles the entire plastic lifecycle, aligns with sustainable development priorities, and is rapidly implemented. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen has also called on nations to rally behind innovative alternatives and cooperative solutions.
World Environment Day 2025 aims to build momentum ahead of the upcoming UN Environment Assembly, where stakeholders hope to formalize decisive steps against plastic waste and accelerate action on the wider climate emergency.
