United Nations in South Africa Commemorates World Environment Day 2023

Pretoria - The United Nations in South Africa, in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), commemorated the World Environment Day  (WED) in Cape Town, South Africa. Celebrated on the 5th of June every year since 1973, the UN led event marked its 50th Anniversary this year. The event has grown to be one of the biggest global platforms for environmental outreach, with millions of people across the world engaging to protect the planet.

This year, the theme of WED2023 focussed on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution. The reason? Humanity produces more than 430 million metric tonnes of plastic annually, two-thirds of which are short‑lived products that soon become waste, filling the ocean and, often, working their way into the human food‑chain.

This year’s WED2023 Commemoration in South Africa involved: two site visits to Waste Want and CRDC SA RESIN8 facilities; tree planting; and Macassar Beach clean‑up. The commemoration was graced by the presence of Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: Ms. Barbara Creecy who was joined by the UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa: Mr. Nelson Muffuh, the Head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Southern Africa Sub‑Regional Office: Dr. Meseret Teklemariam Zemedkun, and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in South Africa: Dr. Ayodele Odusola.

The two recycling plants that were visited in Cape Town are supported through producer responsibility organisations. The purpose was to: (i) appraise the role that extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes are playing in plastic recycling; and (ii) identify challenges faced by plastic waste management businesses and forge ways of supporting them to scale‑up and fully integrate their services into a functional Waste Circular Economy that integrates all players including EPR Organizations, Communities, Government and Waste‑pickers.

In remarks, Ms. Barbra Creecy, reaffirmed South Africa’s “… commitment to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, by the end of 2024”. She highlighted the country’s plan – under the Presidential Good Green Deeds Programme – which will involve employment of two thousand women, young people and people with disabilities “… to support the cleaning and greening of provincial capitals by assisting in litter‑picking in prioritised streets; clearing illegal dumps; planting trees and promoting recycling services”. She underscored that urgent action is required to combat plastic pollution and its detrimental impacts by finding creative and innovative ways to remove plastic pollution from our communities and protect the environment. The Minister urged all citizens to observe this Environment Month by finding creative and innovative ways to remove plastic pollution from our communities, as an act of environmental stewardship. “The smallest act of picking up litter in your neighbourhood could be the start of something amazing in your country,” said Minister Creecy.

Speaking at the commemorative event, the Resident Coordinator and Head of the UN in South Africa, Mr. Nelson Muffuh, bemoaned that annual global plastics production is more than 400 million metric tonnes – one third of which is single‑use. The equivalent of more than 2 000 garbage trucks full of plastic is dumped into our rivers, lakes and oceans. He reiterated that the UN recognizes the importance of collective action in addressing this pressing issue, and we all have a duty to work toward a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment, adding, “… we must work as one – governments, companies, and consumers alike – to break our addiction to plastics, champion zero waste, and build a truly circular economy. Together, let us shape a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all.”

Echoing the sentiments of Minister Creecy and the UN Resident Coordinator, the Head of UNEP Southern Africa Sub-Regional Office, Dr Meseret T. Zemedkun, said “… as one of the Triple Planetary Crisis in today’s world, plastic pollution (and its detrimental impacts on health, economy, environment and sustainable development at large), requires urgent and unified actions”. She underscored that it is prudent to collectively and collaboratively take action to protect our land, water, air and ecosystems which we all depend on. “We need true, effective, robust and innovative solutions. WED2023 is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matter. The steps governments, cities and businesses are taking to tackle plastic pollution are the consequence of this action. The power of people and community matter greatly. Action is more important now than ever before. We are running out of time.” Dr Meseret said.

Dr. Ayodele Odusola, UNDP Resident Representative in South Africa, added that the role of the Blue Economy is threatened by continued waste pollution on our water bodies, including oceans. In his remarks, Dr Odusola underlined the urgency of designing and implementing innovative solutions to stop this catastrophe as the severity of the plastics pollution crisis has become more and more apparent in recent years. He highlighted the UNDP Accelerator Lab’s trials in the Circular Economy and South Africa’s role in collaborating with key actors in the space. He reassured the UN Family’s continued support to the Government of South Africa, towards the achievement of the SDGs and its global commitments on climate change and biodiversity.

The shared‑consensus was that South/ern Africa needs a paradigm shift to move From Linear Plastic Usage to Circularity. There is need to redesign packaging and products from single‑use to reusable plastic products for enhanced sustainability. This would go a long way in keeping plastics out of the ecosystems and in the economy. Educating young people, with a view to instil behavioural changes at all levels is a MUST. Notwithstanding, the people and community (at individual or household levels) should be at the centre of this redesigned intervention. Ultimately, prioritizing plastic pollution action should come as a necessity and a development agenda if we are to change our fate!

For interviews and media enquiries, please contact Eunice Namugwe, UN South Africa, at namugwe@un.org, +27 71 682 8310.