.As Group demands urgent action to end pollution in Nigeria
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) says about 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide every year.
UNEP, in a report to mark the 2025 World Environment Day on June 5, said half of this plastic was designed to be used only once, and only 10 per cent was recycled.
It said between 19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems annually, and without urgent action, this figure is expected to rise by 50 per cent by 2040.
The UN environment agency stressed that plastic pollution was contaminating every corner of the planet, threatening ecosystems, wildlife and human health.
Microplastics are found in food, water and air, with the average person estimated to ingest over 50,000 plastic particles each year and far more when inhalation is included.
UNEP warned that if the climate crisis goes unaddressed, with plastic pollution as a major driver, air pollution levels exceeding safe thresholds could rise by 50 per cent within a decade.
According to the UN agency, plastic pollution in marine and freshwater environments may triple by 2040.
To rally momentum, UNEP is leading the 52nd annual World Environment Day on 5 June, the world’s largest platform for environmental outreach.
This year’s commemoration is hosted by Jeju, Republic of Korea, under the theme #BeatPlasticPollution.
Since launching in 2018, the UNEP-led campaign has advocated for a just and inclusive transition away from plastic dependency.
World Environment Day brings together governments, businesses, communities and individuals in a shared mission to protect and restore the planet.
The day also advances progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those linked to climate action and sustainable consumption.
A major focus of the day is the ongoing push for a global treaty to end plastic pollution. Countries are currently negotiating an international, legally binding agreement, with the next round of talks scheduled for August.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an “ambitious, credible and just agreement” that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, reflects community needs, aligns with the SDGs and is implemented quickly and fully.
UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen, echoed the call, urging nations to unite around innovative solutions and alternatives to plastic use.
World Environment Day serves as a catalyst for action, driving attention toward the UN Environment Assembly later this year.
Hopes are high that nations will finalise concrete steps to curb plastic pollution and address the broader climate emergency at the forthcoming assembly.
.As Group demands urgent action to end plastic pollution in Nigeria
The Foundation for Earth Rights Assembly (FERA) has blamed Nigeria’s alleged poor waste management on indiscriminate plastic disposal.
The group said indiscriminate plastic disposal had became rampant in many Nigerian cities, deepening environmental crisis and climate change issues.
Speaking at an event in Benin to mark the World Environment Day 2025, FERA’s Executive Director, Nosa Tokunbor stressed the urgent need to stop plastic pollution.
Tokunbor urged Nigerians to reduce plastic use, switch to alternatives, and protect the planet and human health from plastic’s harmful effects.
He highlighted poor waste management as a key driver of plastic pollution, a major factor worsening the global climate crisis.
Tokunbor estimated that 19–23 million tonnes of plastic leak annually into aquatic ecosystems from both land and sea sources.
” Such widespread leakage affects not just nature but also economies and public health, disrupting ecosystems and societies globally.
“With countries now negotiating a legally binding treaty, Tokunbor said this year’s Environment Day focuses on ending single-use plastic pollution,” he said.
He stressed that many nations lacked the infrastructure to collect and recycle waste effectively, making recycling alone an insufficient solution.
Tokunbor added that just nine percent of plastics were recycled globally due to poor product design, limiting reuse, and sustainable waste handling.
To solve the crisis, Tokunbor called for international cooperation to boost policy development, funding, and long-term plastic alternatives.
He noted that developing nations like Nigeria needed strong policies but often lacked the resources required for full implementation.
Tokunbor concluded by referencing United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 5/14, urging accelerated global efforts toward a legally binding treaty to end plastic waste.
