World Cleanup Day, newly established by the UN General Assembly in December 2023, is set to become an annual event every September 20, beginning in 2024. This inaugural event, to be held in Tromsø, Norway, will be organized by UN-Habitat, GRID-Arendal, and the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund (NREF). The day aims to spotlight the urgent need for collective action against waste and plastic pollution globally.
FOCUS ON ARCTIC CITIES AND MARINE LITTER
#The theme for this first World Cleanup Day, “Arctic Cities and Marine Litter,” underscores the vulnerability of remote and ecologically significant regions like the Arctic to pollution. With a special focus on the impact of plastic pollution on Arctic ecosystems, this event marks a significant step forward in global efforts to protect these fragile environments.
NORWAY’S ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Norway has long been a leader in environmental protection, and its national cleanup initiatives serve as a model for other countries. Since 2015, the Norwegian government, supported by NREF’s “Cleanup Norway in Time” program, has made significant strides in clearing plastic from the country’s outer coastline. This program, the world’s first professional national cleanup initiative, has already cleared 40% of Norway’s coastline, with a goal of reaching 55% by 2024.
A MODEL FOR GLOBAL ACTION
Cecilie Lind, CEO of NREF, expressed pride in hosting the inaugural World Cleanup Day. “We look forward to sharing our knowledge, experience, and results with the world,” Lind stated. The Norwegian model of combining government funding, voluntary participation, and professional management has proven successful and could inspire similar initiatives worldwide.
UN-HABITAT’S ROLE IN GLOBAL OBSERVANCE
As the UN agency dedicated to sustainable urban development, UN-Habitat will lead the global observance of World Cleanup Day. The agency’s expertise in waste management and environmental advocacy positions it to drive coordinated global action against waste pollution. Michal Mlynár, Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat, emphasized the importance of mobilizing cities and communities to address the pressing issue of waste pollution, noting that around 40% of global municipal waste is improperly managed.
GRID-ARENDAL’S CONTRIBUTION TO POLICY AND AWARENESS
GRID-Arendal, an environmental non-profit organization based in Norway, is a key co-organizer of the Tromsø event. The organization focuses on developing policies that mitigate marine litter and plastic pollution. Karen Landmark, Managing Director at GRID-Arendal, highlighted the importance of World Cleanup Day as a tool to raise awareness and empower the public in the fight against environmental degradation.
TOWARDS A GLOBAL PLASTICS TREATY
The timing of World Cleanup Day coincides with the final Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee negotiations on a global plastics treaty. Landmark noted that the event could provide additional momentum for achieving a comprehensive global agreement on plastic pollution.
The inaugural UN World Cleanup Day in Tromsø, Norway, marks a pivotal moment in global efforts to combat waste and plastic pollution. With a focus on Arctic Cities and Marine Litter, this event highlights the critical need for collective action to protect vulnerable ecosystems. By drawing on Norway’s successful cleanup initiatives and the expertise of organizations like UN-Habitat and GRID-Arendal, World Cleanup Day aims to inspire global participation in the fight against pollution.
