World Earth Day is observed every year on April 22 across the world in order to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote actions to protect our planet. This annual observance is not just a day on the calendar; it’s a global call to action, urging individuals, communities, and governments to work together for a sustainable future. The theme for World Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics. Plastic production and waste are set to triple by 2060, and up to 37 million metric tons of plastic pollution could be entering oceans every year by 2040. This is leaving a legacy of environmental impacts for future generations.
The inception of World Earth Day can be traced back to 1970 when millions of people took to the streets to protest environmental degradation and advocate for greater environmental protection measures. The event was spearheaded by Senator Gaylord Nelson of the United States, who was deeply concerned about the growing environmental crisis. The first Earth Day mobilised an unprecedented number of people, leading to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the passage of a number of landmark environmental laws.
This week, negotiators from 176 countries will gather for the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Ottawa, Canada to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment to advance the development of a global agreement, by the end of 2024. Billion tons of plastic have become waste, filling up landfills and polluting lakes, rivers, the soil and the ocean. Without new and effective control measures, and increased international cooperation, the global plastic pollution crisis will intensify.
Negotiation sessions will start on April 23, where countries will continue to work through the possible scope, wording, and mechanisms, including financial tools, to include in the new legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. The global plastics treaty has the potential to stop the plastic pollution crisis at the source – if governments truly step up and uphold their responsibility to the people, environment, wildlife, and the climate. Ambition needs to be more than just words. This negotiating session is pivotal. It is an opportunity to make significant progress for a robust agreement that would allow future generations to live in a world free of plastic pollution.
World Earth Day holds immense significance as it serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and preserve the planet we call home. Every one of us has a role to play in mitigating plastic pollution. It is a day to reflect on the impact of human activities on the environment and to recommit ourselves to taking meaningful actions to mitigate climate change, conserve natural resources, and promote environmental sustainability. World Earth Day serves as a rallying cry for urgent action. It is essential that we take decisive action to address these challenges.
