New Delhi: To raise awareness and promote the sustainability of our planet, “World Earth Day” is being observed across the world today (Monday).
With the ultimate goal of building a plastic-free future for generations to come. This year EARTHDAY.ORG has announced the theme: ‘Planet vs. Plastics’.
This significant day engages around one billion people worldwide in activities to address the climate crisis and foster behavioural change to protect the environment.
It highlights the threat plastics pose to the planet and human health, thereby calling an end to all plastic waste by demanding a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by the year 2040.
To achieve the same, EARTHDAY.ORG has laid out significant goals:
-Support a highly ambitious Global Plastic Treaty that binds all to the same standards
-A 60% of reduction of all fossil fuel-based plastic production by 2040
-Requiring producers and retailers of plastics to be liable for the cost of any environmental or health-related damages by the “producer pays” principle
-Public and private sector investments in innovation to replace all fossil fuel-based plastics
-Ban all plastic-related tobacco products including, but not limited to tobacco filters and e-cigarettes
-Ban the export of plastic waste
-End the incineration of plastic waste
-Support innovative solutions and alternatives to plastic in all sectors
-Fully-financed education and public awareness campaigns to inform the public about reasons and strategies for ending plastic pollution.
The Global Plastic Treaty is an opportunity for the United Nations and Governmental Organizations to prove the health of the planet and its citizens take priority over an industry threatening the health of every human on Earth.
Most importantly, though, it is a chance for our world to come together as one, and truly pledge and commit themselves to restoring the planet, following the model of the successful international cooperation found in the Montreal Protocol.
The Global Plastics Treaty has the potential to end plastic pollution, protect human health, and lead to a waste-free world. We cannot allow our governments to waste this pivotal opportunity
In February 2022, United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), adopted a historic resolution titled “End Plastic Pollution: Towards an internationally legally binding instrument”
Under the resolution, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), will complete a draft global legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by the end of 2024.
As per UNEP the amount of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems could nearly triple from some 9–14 million tonnes per year in 2016 to a projected 23–37 million tons per year by 2040.
By 2050 greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic production, use and disposal would account for 15 percent of allowed emissions, to limit global warming to 1.5°C (34.7°F).
History of Earth Day
The concept of Earth Day can be traced back to the late 1960s, which saw a surge in public debate over environmental issues, with Rachel Carson’s influential book Silent Spring (1962) and the Santa Barbara oil spill (1969) raising awareness about environmental destruction.
However, it was first accepted in the USA when the UN officially acknowledged it in 1972 after peace activist John McConnell proposed the idea of celebrating a day in honour of the Earth and peace at a 1969 UNESCO conference, where it began as a national teach-in on the environment, led by Senator Gaylord Nelson and activist Denis Hayes.