As the world adopts the theme “Ending Plastic Pollution” for World Environment Day (WED) 2025, it further stands to promote globally the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign. The Republic of Korea hosted this year’s observance, with the main events at the Jeju Province, which set a goal to eliminate plastic pollution by 2040.
“Today, the accord is influencing international policy discussions and strengthening commitments to environmental treaties and goals, like the Paris Agreement or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
As we all know, plastic pollution has become a critical global problem, with an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems annually. Microplastics have been found in soil, water, and even human bodies, posing significant threats to biodiversity, food safety, and public health.
This year’s campaign emphasised the need for systemic change by encouraging governments, industries, and individuals to adopt sustainable practices such as:
Refusing single-use plastics; reducing overall plastic consumption; reusing and recycling materials; and rethinking product designs to minimise plastic use.
The 2025 observance also aligned with ongoing international efforts to develop a legally binding treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution, including in marine environments.
Back home, World Environment Day 2025 presents an opportunity to intensify efforts against plastic pollution. Local initiatives, such as promoting reusable alternatives and improving waste management systems, can contribute significantly to this global cause. Engaging communities, businesses, and policymakers is essential to drive meaningful change.
World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5. It was established by the United Nations in 1972, with over 150 nations at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, which was the first major international conference on environmental issues – making it one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach and advocacy. With its major target to bring global attention to pressing environmental issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, and deforestation, etc.
It encourages governments, organisations, and individuals to take concrete steps toward sustainability, such as planting trees, reducing waste, or adopting green technologies.
Today, the accord is influencing international policy discussions and strengthening commitments to environmental treaties and goals, like the Paris Agreement or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Meanwhile, the time is now to realise that holistic policies initiated by any administration, geared towards eliminating – not just plastic waste – waste, will go a long way to preserve nature and build sustainable food systems to engender sustainable development in Nigeria.
Although the last holiday nearly overshadowed this year’s celebration, Nigeria still actively participated in World Environment Day 2025, aligning with the global theme “Ending Plastic Pollution”. This is so by implementing a range of policies, community initiatives, and educational programmes to address environmental challenges and promote sustainability.
Read also: World Environment Day 2025: Medplus rallies Nigerians to end plastic pollution
Starting January 2025, Nigeria is poised to enforce a ban on single-use plastics in government offices, with a nationwide ban to follow. This initiative targets items like straws, cutlery, plastic bottles, and small water sachets, aiming to reduce the over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste produced annually.
Furthermore, experts emphasise the need for stricter enforcement of environmental laws to ensure the success of sustainability initiatives – part of the reason some states have embraced the weekly environmental sanitation exercise.
The Green Rising Initiative launched by UNICEF engages young Nigerians in climate action through tree planting and plastic recycling activities, aiming to plant 100,000 trees and recycle over 30,000kg of plastic waste by March 2025.
The EcoThinker Challenge, where the TGED Foundation invites youth to create short videos proposing solutions to plastic pollution, fostering innovation and awareness among young Nigerians, is also a welcomed initiative.
The civil society and NGO initiatives have shown that sustaining our environment is everybody’s business. SustyVibes, a youth-led organisation, conducts tree planting, community clean-ups, and educational workshops on renewable energy and sustainable living, making sustainability relatable and actionable. Also, Nigeria Youth SDGs Network focuses on localising the UN SDGs, empowering young Nigerians through education, employment opportunities, and civic participation in environmental governance.
The local governments’ and private sector efforts are encouraging. The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) enforces sanitation laws and promotes environmental cleanliness in the state. Family Homes Funds Limited: As part of its social housing initiative, this government-backed organisation incorporates sustainable practices in housing projects, contributing to environmental conservation.
All these initiatives will make sense only when the government, at all levels, chooses to be deliberate and intentional in pursuing and encouraging policies that protect the nation’s biodiversity and flora and fauna, as well as its food systems. In doing this, the government should be very intentional in the way it implements policies on land use and environmental sustainability.
No matter how we look at it, World Environment Day, irrespective of the theme, has become vital because it galvanises collective action and serves as a reminder that protecting the earth is a shared responsibility.
