Are you sure you want to print? Save the planet. Opt not to print.
United Nations Environment Programme
- Who we are
Latest
Press release:
- Where we work
- What we do
- Publications & data
We will not recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis: we need a systemic transformation to achieve the transition to a circular economy
- 22 April 2024UN expert publishes User Guide on right to healthy and sustainable environment
- 22 April 2024UN expert publishes User Guide on right to healthy and sustainable environment
- 19 April 2024Critical negotiations on plastic pollution begin on 23 April
- 19 April 2024Critical negotiations on plastic pollution begin on 23 April
- 15 April 2024World Circular Economy Forum 2024
Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans, rivers, and lakes.
Plastic pollution is a global problem.Every year 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas.
Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems’ ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting millions of people’s livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being.
UNEP’s body of work demonstrates that the problem of plastic pollution doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The environmental, social, economic and health risks of plastics need to be assessed alongside other environmental stressors, like climate change, ecosystem degradation and resource use.
Featured Events
27 May 2024 | Conference4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are in the crossfires of multiple crises: climate change, the economic and social repercussions of COVID-19, and a crisis of debt. The pandemic hugely impacted all island nations, especially those dependent on…
05 Jun 2024 | UN DayWorld Environment Day 2024
When: 5 June 2024Theme: Land restoration, desertification and drought resilienceHost: The Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaVisit the official campaign website.World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment.Led by the United…
17 Jun 2024 | ConferenceOEWG 3: Science-Policy Panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution
Deadline for registration is 31 March 2024.The third session of the ad hoc open-ended working group to prepare proposals for a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution (OEWG-…
Reports & Publications
Reports
Factsheets
Did you know? A sustainable economy is worth $12 trillion and can create 380 million jobs.