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World Environment Day 2025: Why it matters
*Corresponding author: Bhaskar Shenoy, Department of Pediatrics, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. bshenoy@gmail.com
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How to cite this article: Shenoy B. World Environment Day 2025: Why it matters. Karnataka Paediatr J. 2025;40:49-51. doi: 10.25259/KPJ_53_2025
World Environment Day, first conceptualised in 1972, was established at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. Its goal was to ‘address the challenges of preserving and enhancing the human environment’. The event, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is celebrated annually on June 5. The day serves as a global platform to raise awareness through campaigns and spur action to protect the environment. Each year, a country is chosen as the host nation to lead the campaign for World Environment Day. The theme for 2025 is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, highlighting how plastic plagues the environment and ecosystems globally. The UNEP has selected the Republic of Korea to serve as the host country this year to aid in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. The goals include ‘those on climate action, sustainable production and consumption, protection of seas and oceans and repairing ecosystems and retaining biodiversity’. The official campaign of the UNEP states that, ‘Plastic pollution permeates every corner of the planet – even in our bodies in the form of microplastics. World Environment Day 2025 calls for collective action to tackle plastic pollution’. According to the United Nations report, more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once. Out of this, <10% is recycled. An estimated 11 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually. In addition, it is estimated that each person on the planet consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles per year, and many more if inhalation is considered.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2025 THEME: BEAT PLASTIC POLLUTION
The choice of ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ as the WED 2025 theme underscores the urgent need to address the staggering volume of plastic waste inundating our ecosystems. The goal of World Environment Day is to highlight all the changes in our natural environment that has impacted human existence on the planet. Because the Earth is our only home, it is critical to demonstrate to all generations, including children, teenagers and adults, the importance of learning to utilise and care for our resources appropriately.
Plastic, a material designed to last forever, is choking our oceans, contaminating our soil, harming wildlife and even entering the human food chain. Plastic pollution solutions are critical, ranging from reducing single-use plastics to fostering a circular economy for plastic materials. The 2025 focus aims to reignite global efforts, encourage innovation and push for stronger policies to drastically cut down plastic production and waste. The goal is to highlight innovative approaches and collaborative efforts required to truly beat plastic pollution on a global scale. Plastic waste has a devastating impact on ecosystems and human health, making it a critical issue that needs urgent attention. By focusing on reducing plastic pollution, we can protect our environment and create a healthier world for future generations.
India’s participation and initiatives: A strong commitment to a cleaner environment
India has always been a significant participant in World Environment Day celebrations, demonstrating its resolve towards environmental protection and sustainable development. Over the years, India has launched numerous environmental initiatives, particularly in the realm of waste management and plastic waste management. Notable efforts include the nationwide push for a single-use plastic ban, which aims to phase out specific plastic items. Campaigns like the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ (Clean India Mission) have also incorporated components of waste collection and disposal, contributing to cleaner public spaces and a reduction in litter. Furthermore, India has emphasised extended producer responsibility, making producers accountable for the lifecycle of their plastic products. Sustainable living practices are also being promoted through various government schemes and public awareness campaigns, aiming to foster responsible consumption habits across the nation.
What are the main causes of high plastic pollution in India?
High plastic consumption: India generates about 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with a per capita plastic consumption of around 11 kg/year, driven by rising industrialisation and consumerism.
Consequently, India ranks among the top 10 plastic-polluting countries globally.
Poor waste management: Only 15–20% of plastic waste is recycled in India, while the remaining waste ends up in landfills, water bodies or is burned.
Most recycling is informal, with 90% carried out by waste pickers working in unsafe conditions.
Domination of single-use plastics: In 2023, nearly 43% of India’s total plastic waste – about 4.07 million tonnes – was single-use plastic. Despite bans in some states, enforcement remains weak, and alternatives are often expensive or unavailable.
Plastic waste in rivers and oceans: Three of the world’s top ten rivers carrying 90% of plastic waste – the Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra – are in India. The country contributes 0.6 million tonnes of plastic waste to the oceans annually.
Rapid urbanisation: Waste from Tier 1 cities accounts for 72.5% of India’s daily waste. In cities such as Bengaluru and Mumbai, where daily waste exceeds 9,000 tonnes, plastic pollution reflects a structural failure in planning, design and governance.
Many consumers and small businesses lack awareness of sustainable alternatives and proper disposal methods.
As individuals, there are several simple yet impactful ways to contribute to beating plastic pollution. This includes reducing the use of single-use plastics, recycling and properly disposing of plastic waste and supporting initiatives that promote plastic-free alternatives.
Refuse single-use plastics: Say no to plastic bags, straws, disposable coffee cups and water bottles. Carry reusable alternatives instead
Reduce and reuse: Opt for products with minimal packaging. Choose reusable containers for food storage, shopping and everyday needs
Recycle properly: Understand your local recycling guidelines and ensure you sort your waste correctly. Support recycling initiatives in your community
Support eco-friendly businesses: Choose brands that prioritise sustainability, offer plastic-free alternatives and have strong environmental policies
Participate in Clean-ups: Join local beach, river or neighbourhood clean-ups. Every piece of plastic collected makes a difference
Advocate for change: Speak up! Encourage local businesses to adopt plastic-free policies and urge policymakers to implement stronger environmental regulations
Educate others: Share your knowledge about plastic pollution and its impact with friends, family and your community.
India is actively participating in World Environment Day through various campaigns, events and sustainability initiatives. From beach clean-ups to tree planting drives, communities are coming together to make a difference and raise awareness about the importance of preserving our environment.
World Environment Day is the perfect opportunity to take action and protect our planet. Held annually on June 5, this United Nations observance aims to raise awareness and inspire global change for the environment. With participants from over 150 countries, it is a powerful movement that brings together individuals, communities, organisations and governments.
The Earth needs our care and help. The ice caps on the poles are melting. Every year, the sea level increases and the global temperature rises. Droughts are getting more prolonged and severe, making food production more challenging. Extreme weather occurrences are becoming more common. The catastrophic worldwide health crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus might be replicated if we continue to degrade ecosystems and do not address climate change, which is, without a doubt, a primary risk factor for human health, as the UN states emphatically. Man must use his knowledge to create a better environment in harmony with nature if he is to realise his most significant potential in nature.
The United Nations intends to educate the global world about how fragile our mother earth’s balance is and how, without it, human life and other animal species would be destined to extinction if we utilise her resources indiscriminately. Environmental Performance Index, 2018 (EPI), a biennial study by Columbia and Yale Universities and the World Economic Forum, puts India as one of the worst five countries in the world, down 36 marks from 2016.
Regarding air quality, India comes in at 178th place out of 180 countries, despite its poor environmental health ranking near the end of the list. That it scored just 177 points out of 180 possible issues due to the country’s lacklustre record on environmental health policies and high rates of air pollution-related mortality. In India, mortality due to ultra-fine PM2.5 pollution has risen steadily over the past decade, to an estimated 1,640,113 deaths per year, according to the Environmental Protection Institute. To that purpose, the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) will begin on this day, a worldwide mission to restore billions of hectares of land, from forests to agriculture, from the tops of mountains to the depths of the sea. ‘Only by preserving healthy ecosystems can we enhance people’s livelihoods, combat climate change and halt biodiversity loss’, the UN notes.
For decades, plastic pollution has seeped into every corner of the world, leaching into the water we drink, into the food we eat and our bodies. While plastic pollution is a major concern, it is also one of the most fixable of today’s environmental challenges, with some obvious solutions at hand. World Environment Day 2025 highlights the urgent need for global and local action against plastic waste. India’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign and the Aravalli Green Wall project showcase its commitment to sustainability, but stronger policies, public participation and innovation are crucial to effectively combat plastic pollution and environmental degradation.