World Environment Day 2023, hosted by Côte d'Ivoire, has come to a close. 

The Day ended on a positive note with Inger Andersen, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, saying that we can beat plastic pollution as millions are demanding change.

On 5 June, UNEP/GRID-Warsaw organized the conference "Solutions to Plastic Pollution." Attendees included representatives from the UN, the Polish government, academia, businesses, and organizations. The event took place at Warsaw's Zamoyski Palace and received national media coverage. Discussions focused on the urgent issue of plastic pollution in the natural environment.

The conference concluded with an appeal to participants to join the global movement to end plastic pollution.

Posters for World Environment Day 2023, carrying the #BeatPlasticPollution message, were displayed on Digital Out-of-Home screens across hundreds of locations in Poland.

Animated spots synchronized with the weather forecast were aired on rainy days, highlighting the presence of microplastic pollutants. This innovative approach connected plastic pollution to everyday experiences in real-time, emphasizing the need for action. The campaign's success was enabled by collaboration with AMS and Screen Network, who provided technological solutions for spreading this critical information.

To celebrate World Environment Day 2023, UNEP/GRID-Warsaw organised community-based clean-up activities across Poland in a joint effort with the Planet Heroes platform.

As part of this action, on 3 June, on the banks of the Vistula River in Warsaw, people gathered to collect plastic garbage. The rubbish collected was turned into an art exhibition and displayed in Warsaw.

Ayao, an artist in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, brings marine debris to life through her artistic creations. Using her craftsmanship, she transforms the debris into fish, penguins, turtles, and other adorable sea creatures. Her passion for living amidst nature led her to the Noto Peninsula, where she encountered the beauty of the Sea of Japan. 

Alarmed by the increasing amount of debris washing ashore, Ayao started collecting and repurposing these items, hoping to raise awareness about environmental issues. Her objective is to promote awareness and inspire change.

Ayao's art and educational posts on social media have garnered positive responses, motivating others, including students and young individuals, to join her in cleaning up and creating art from marine debris.

Find out more here.

Representatives from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, the Western Cape Government, the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality and the UN Environment Programme came together to celebrate World Environment Day in Cape Town, South Africa.

The representatives visited Waste Want and CRDC SA RESIN8 , two plastic waste management sites, as well as Macassar Beach where they aimed to identify ways to reduce plastic pollution entering the ocean.

Save The Waves Coalition is engaging beach-goers, surfers and coastal users worldwide to help report rubbish they find along their coastlines.

Through the Save The Waves App, the reports are shared with local and global initiatives working to tackle these issues. Users are also provided with partner resources that they can follow to take further action and maximize the impact of their efforts. The App helps tackle plastic pollution at the source as well to the quality and health of the downstream coastal ecosystems.

Magic System, a band from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, have recorded a World Environment Day message. The lead singer of the band, A’salfo is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

World Environment Day 2023 was hosted by Côte d'Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands. On 5 June individuals, communities, civil society, businesses and governments around the world marked the day by focusing on the need to #BeatPlasticPollution