By Abigael Gioche
As the world marks the Environment Day, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a powerful plea for global action to tackle plastic pollution.
Under the theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution,” he urged world leaders, industries, and individuals to work together, drawing urgent attention to the environmental, health, and climate threats posed by plastic waste.
In his address, he emphasized the danger of plastic pollution.
“Plastic pollution is choking our planet. It’s contaminating our food, water, and air, and disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities,” Guterres said.
He warned that if no action is taken, plastic production could nearly triple by 2060, creating catastrophic environmental consequences.
Calling for urgent action, Guterres pushed for a legally binding international treaty to regulate the entire life cycle of plastic from production and consumption to disposal and recycling.
“We must move beyond band-aid solutions,” he said. “A strong global treaty is our best hope to end the age of plastic pollution. It must be comprehensive, enforceable, and rooted in science.”
The Secretary-General also called on individuals, companies, and governments to shift toward a circular economy and reduce reliance on single-use plastics. “Every step counts from rejecting plastic packaging to investing in sustainable alternatives,” he added.
While policy change is crucial, Guterres stressed that individuals and businesses also have a role to play. “We must break our addiction to single-use plastics and embrace a circular economy that prioritizes reuse, repair, and recycling,” he urged.
The Republic of Korea, host of this year’s World Environment Day, echoed the call for global cooperation and innovation.
Guterres closed with a rallying cry for collective responsibility to beat plastic pollution to create a sustainable world for future generations.