Preventing, controlling and managing pollution is central to improving health, human well-being and prosperity for all.
UNEP drives capacity and leadership in sound management of chemicals and waste while working to improve ways to reduce waste through circularity and pollutants released to the air, water, soil and the ocean.
Pollution is widespread – and often fatal. Dirty air alone is responsible for 6.7 million deaths globally every year, while conservative estimates suggest that in 2019, 5.5 million people died from heart disease linked to lead exposure.
To stem the pollution crisis, countries agreed in 2022 to establish a new body that would provide policymakers with robust, independent information on chemicals, waste and pollution.
Negotiators are finetuning the details of this new science-policy panel with the latest round of discussions set for 15-18 June in Uruguay. Once operational, it will complete a trifecta of similar scientific bodies designed to counter the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
The new science-policy panel can help to translate scientific findings into action and is expected to work strategically with the recently adopted Global Framework on Chemicals and numerous Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen urged the international community to unite to tackle plastic pollution in an interview with NHK ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June.
Tune in to The Nice Call for an Ambitious Treaty on Plastic Pollution press conference from 18:15-19:15 hrs (GMT+2) happening at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
Guests will reaffirm the shared ambition, instilled in Busan (INC-5.1, November 2024), of a coalition of several countries from all regional groups and all levels of development, to conclude an ambitious treaty taking into account the entire life cycle of plastics.
Phasing out single-use plastic products like coffee cups, sachets, wet wipes and other short-lived items has been popular for years. Today, over 90 countries have banned or restricted plastic bags. In 2021, the EU banned many single-use plastic items. In response, new, practical alternatives are quickly emerging.
This has marked a shift in public awareness and attitude, with real-life consequences for businesses. Large-scale market changes, strong consumer sentiment, and an ever-tighter policy landscape mean businesses must reinvent themselves. By designing products for sustainability through reuse, refill, repairability and recyclability, businesses are reducing waste and aligning with global policy trends.
For consumers, an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution would prioritise quality over quantity, offering consumers greater safety and reduced health risks. For businesses, it would provide clear, predictable rules within a fair regulatory framework.
Read the full article by Elisa Tonda, Chief of the Resources and Markets Branch of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division.
5 June is World Environment Day. Follow live updates from across the globe as countries, communities and changemakers join in to #BeatPlasticPollution.
In an effort to strengthen global efforts on mercury monitoring and control, a weeklong series of technical trainings and coordination events is underway from 2–6 June 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The initiative brings together customs and enforcement authorities, government representatives, health and environment experts, and international partners to support the effective implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Led by UNEP and funded by the Government of Japan and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the initiative merges two UNEP-led projects to reinforce mercury trade controls and promote the elimination of mercury-added skin lightening products.
The week kicks off with national training for Sri Lankan customs and enforcement officials, enhancing the country’s capacity to identify, track, and regulate mercury trade. This training is conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, the Minamata Convention focal point for Sri Lanka. This is followed by a two-day subregional training with customs officers and enforcement agencies from neighboring countries.
The final two days are dedicated to the Multi-country Meeting on the Elimination of Mercury-Added Skin Lightening Products, which addresses the health and environmental risks posed by these products. Almost forty representatives will be in attendance.
Experts have long known that to end plastic pollution, companies must find alternatives to some plastics, prolong the lives of others and dramatically increase recycling rates.
The problem? Many businesses that make and use plastic cannot find workers with the technical know-how to make all this happen.
That’s why UNEP recently struck a partnership with a network of universities in Latin America and the Caribbean to equip students with a host of green skills, including those linked to plastic. We recently spoke with UNEP’s Regional Director, Juan Bello, about the programme and how it’s planning to make a dent in plastic pollution.
Read the full story in the lead-up to World Environment Day.
This Briefing will provide updates on the preparations for OEWG 3.2 and close the “Road to OEWG 3.2 Series” of events organized by the OEWG Secretariat and Geneva Environment Network to build bridges and promote collaboration and knowledge sharing between and among stakeholders, and to raise public awareness about the ad hoc open-ended working group.
