Nepal joined the global community today in marking World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5, with the theme “Alleviating Plastic Pollution: Our Responsibility.” Across the country, various programs and awareness campaigns are being held to highlight the urgent need to address the growing plastic crisis and promote sustainable environmental practices.

This year's commemoration, led globally by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is being hosted by Jeju, Republic of Korea, under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution. The day also serves as a call to action for governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals to reduce plastic dependency and transition toward a cleaner, greener future.

Plastic waste has long been an issue in Nepal, with plastic litter found everywhere—from the world’s highest peak to the rivers of the Tarai plains. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, responsible for managing waste in Khumbu, collected 25,056kg of garbage of paper, plastics and cloths after the spring expedition ended this May.

Every year, the SPCC collects garbage from Everest region. Nepal Army also conducted mountain clean up campaigns. Last year, the SPCC and Nepal Army collected about 95 tons of garbage, mostly plastics from Everest alone. Nepal Army did not conduct clean-up campaign this year.

A reliable data of plastic waste in Nepal is hard to come by, but a report of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) released in 2018 claims the country produces approximately 2.7 tons of plastic garbage daily. The report says 16% of urban waste consist of plastic.

According to the United Nations, 400 million tons of plastic waste are produced in Earth every year, with only 10 percent of the waste being recycled, and 11 million tons of plastic being discharged into rivers, lakes, and oceans.

“We cannot afford to treat plastic pollution as someone else’s problem or tomorrow’s issue. Every bottle left behind on a trekking trail, every discarded wrapper washed into a glacial stream, is a sign that we must act,” said Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in his message.

In his message on the occasion, President Ramchandra Paudel stressed the importance of adopting a nature-friendly lifestyle, stating, “The haphazard and unscientific use of plastic polymers has created plastic waste, which is becoming a challenging environmental issue.”

Since its inception in 1973, World Environment Day has grown into the world’s largest platform for environmental awareness, with participation from over 150 countries.

Plastic pollution poses a severe threat to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Microplastics have infiltrated food, water, and air, with the average person ingesting over 50,000 plastic particles annually. If left unchecked, plastic pollution, a significant driver of the broader climate crisis, could result in air pollution levels exceeding safe thresholds by 50% within the next decade.

Adding urgency to the day’s significance, June 5 is also observed as the International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, established by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2017.

The FAO estimates that 11 to 26 million tons of fish are caught illegally each year, costing the global economy billions and endangering marine biodiversity.

The United Nations is currently leading efforts to finalize a global treaty on plastic pollution, with negotiations ongoing. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an “ambitious, credible and just agreement” that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics and supports sustainable development goals (SDGs).