The United Nations designated June 5 as World Environment Day in 1972. This year's World Environment Day is themed "Ending Plastic Pollution" and aims to mobilize countries to jointly implement and promote corresponding solutions. According to the United Nations website, plastic pollution has penetrated every corner of the earth, destroying soil, polluting groundwater and endangering organisms.
Wang Qian said that the choices people make can shape industries, change markets and redefine the common future of mankind. "We can end plastic pollution and protect the earth and humanity through joint efforts."
Chang Qide, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Development System in China, holds a similar view. He said at the event that day that although the problem of plastic pollution is serious, "it is one of the most solvable environmental challenges we face today." Chang Qide said that people already have the tools, knowledge and innovative means to bring about change, and urged all individuals, businesses, communities and governments to adopt sustainable practices to promote lasting change.
Chang Qide specifically mentioned China's new model for the management of marine plastic waste, the "Blue Cycle", and praised China's efforts to address plastic pollution. This new model of marine plastic waste management, jointly participated by coastal residents and enterprises in Zhejiang Province, China, uses blockchain, Internet of Things and other technologies to achieve visual traceability of all links such as collection, recycling, remanufacturing and resale of marine plastic pollution, and won the "Earth Guardian Award", the highest honor in the field of environmental protection of the United Nations in 2023.
"In China, we see that local governments, the private sector and community leaders are stepping up their efforts through innovative solutions. Ultimately, the power to end plastic pollution lies in ourselves," said Chang Qide.
The event also played a video speech delivered by UN Secretary-General Guterres for this year's World Environment Day. Guterres pointed out that plastic waste clogs rivers, pollutes oceans, harms wildlife, and penetrates every corner of the earth during decomposition. He said that people are taking action to promote urgent changes, "but we must go further and faster."
In 2024, the fifth round of negotiations on the United Nations Plastics Convention ended in failure due to too many differences among participating countries. In his video speech, Guterres urged countries around the world to return to the convention negotiations in August this year, "to be determined to overcome differences, open up a common path, and reach the convention that our world needs."
