Secretary-General Calls for Beating Plastic Pollution, in World Environment Day Video Message

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for World Environment Day, observed today:

A healthy planet is essential for a prosperous and peaceful future.

We all have a role to play in protecting our only home.  But, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to start.

That’s why this World Environment Day has just one request:  beat plastic pollution.

Our world is swamped by harmful plastic waste.  Every year, more than 8 million tons end up in the oceans.

Microplastics in the seas now outnumber stars in our galaxy.  From remote islands to the Artic, nowhere is untouched.  If present trends continue, by 2050, our oceans will have more plastic than fish.

On World Environment Day, the message is simple:  reject single-use plastic.

Refuse what you can’t reuse.  Together, we can chart a path to a cleaner, greener world.  Thank you.