Ahead of World Environment Day the African Development Bank has been promoting its Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF).

The ACEF is a multi-donor grants facility that looks at mainstreaming the circular economy. It aims to help African nations fulfil their development priorities, while meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The ACEF aims to become the leading financier of the circular transition in Africa.  

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), called for a rethink on every stage of the plastic life cycle to reduce plastic pollution, improve human health and slow climate change.  

In her speech, at the launch of the UNEP report Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy, Andersen said, with the right actions, plastic pollution could fall by 80 per cent by 2040. This would cut greenhouse emissions and create over 700,000 jobs, many in the Global South.

A Chilean start-up has been combatting plastic pollution by providing shampoo, washing-up liquid and detergent in reusable containers.

Paying for the packaging on first purchase allows customers to pay up to 40 per cent less on future purchases, saving money and reducing pollution.

This year’s World Environment Day on 5 June will look at how we can #BeatPlasticPollution.

An online and in-person forum will draw together experts to exchange ideas on solutions to minimise the impact of plastics on the planet.

The Paris International Forum to End Plastic Pollution in Cities will be held 26 May in Paris and online and will bring together mayors, NGOs, intergovernmental organisations and philanthropies to look at fighting plastic pollution.

To register for the online event visit here.

Plastic-free parks is an annual event, running from April to September, that gets volunteers to track plastic pollution trends in U.S. National Parks.

Organised by the 5 Gyres Institute, the goal is to track which materials are the most common plastic waste and with this knowledge find a solution.

Volunteers can sign up here.

Stars from across India have joined the Bhamla Foundation and released videos calling for action on plastic pollution.

Actress Vidya Balan, singer Armaan Malik and Guneet Monga, an Academy Award-winning producer, have all called for an end to plastic pollution. The full playlist can be viewed here.

Small islands are disproportionately impacted by plastic waste, this video explores the issue.

A webinar inviting youth and women to discuss solutions to plastic pollution was held virtually on Tuesday.  

Organized by the UN Environment Programme and the National Environment Management Authority, who lead the Government of Kenya in observing World Environment Day, the webinar will contribute the findings to World Environment Day 2023.

Held annually on 5 June the slogan of World Environment Day this year will be #BeatPlasticPollution.

With tourism numbers almost back to pre-pandemic levels, the contribution the industry makes to global plastic pollution is also on the rise.



With eight of 10 tourists visits being to the coast they are significant contributors to the 8 million tonnes of plastic that enters the ocean each year.



This UNEP article explores the issue and what can be done to address the problem.

 

The Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter will be hosting a webinar to discuss its five Action Tracks, new partnerships, new Communities of Practise and updates on its digital platforms.

The webinar will be held on 24 May at 3pm EAT, registration for the event is now online.