World Environment Day, observed annually on June 05, is marked today with the aim of encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment.

This year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has declared the theme for World Environment Day under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution, ‘Ecosystem Restoration’. 

World Environment Day 2023 is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matters, the UNEP said, adding that the steps governments and businesses are taking to tackle plastic pollution are the consequence of this action.

“It is time to accelerate this action and transition to a circular economy.”

“It is time to #BeatPlasticPollution”. It added.

More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than 10 per cent is recycled. An estimated 19-23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually. That is approximately the weight of 2,200 Eiffel Towers all together, according to the UNEP.

With available science and solutions to tackle the problem, governments, companies and other stakeholders must scale up and speed actions to solve this crisis, it added, highlighting that this underscores the importance of this World Environment Day in mobilizing transformative action from every corner of the world.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Central Environment Authority of Sri Lanka, Supun H. Pathirage emphasized that this year’s theme for the World Environment Day is a current topic, pointing out that several programmes have been implemented across the island under this theme.

Accordingly, the Central Environmental Authority will conduct awareness programs throughout Sri Lanka to aware public of the wise use of plastic and regulate establishments that bring polythene and plastic into Sri Lanka. 

The Central Environmental Authority will also ban 4 types of single-use plastics, according to Mr. Pathirage.

The main event for the celebration of World Environment Day in Sri Lanka is being held in Pettah, Colombo.

You can access more information, the actions you can carry out to contribute, as well as a large number of materials to promote the movement through social media by joining the #BeatPlasticPollution movement through the official website of World Environment Day 2023.