Preventing, controlling and managing pollution is central to improving health, human well-being and prosperity for all.
UNEP drives capacity and leadership in sound management of chemicals and waste while working to improve ways to reduce waste through circularity and pollutants released to the air, water, soil and the ocean.
Solving environmental challenges in complex geopolitical times can be arduous but collaboration works. Dive into UNEP’s annual report and see how we advanced global action on climate, nature, and pollution for a fairer, sustainable planet.
Cancer rates have been found to be rising among non-smokers globally, a development researchers linked in part to air pollution according to a study by the World Health Organization.
This was the latest in a string of studies outlining the perils of airborne contaminants, which cause some 8 million premature deaths a year and cost the global economy more than US$8 trillion annually.
The third International Day of Zero Waste, facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), will be observed on 30 March 2025. This year’s theme, “towards zero waste in fashion and textiles”, highlights the vital role of the fast-growing fashion and textiles sector in countering the waste pollution crisis gripping the planet.
Advocates say the industry could embody the zero-waste agenda by bolstering waste management globally, reducing waste generation, and promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns.
More than 100 children under the age of five die every day in East Asia and the Pacific due to air pollution, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned in a new analysis released on Thursday, calling for urgent action to tackle the crisis.
Happening from 17-19 February in Osaka, Japan and online, the UNEP-IETC Global Dialogue is a high-level biennial conference aimed to convene key stakeholders, including policymakers, private sector representatives, academia, civil society, and youth, to foster dialogue and develop actionable strategies for advancing circular waste management practices.
This Dialogue aspires to serve as a catalyst for collaboration, establishing clear pathways to integrate sustainable practices across sectors. It emphasizes social equity, gender responsiveness, and impactful policy frameworks. Participants will explore insights from global case studies and actively engage in discussions aimed at shaping inclusive, future-ready waste management solutions that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At a session titled New Agreement on Plastics: What will it take? at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Inger Andersen said the following:
"After two years of talks, we are closer to securing a treaty for the ages. One that hits the problem of plastic pollution hard and protects human, planetary and economic health.
"A high degree of convergence has been reached in 29 out of 32 articles that are proposed to make up the treaty text. However, three areas require significant further work. Products, including the issue of chemicals. Sustainable production and consumption. Financing, including a financial mechanism and aligning financial flows.
"There is a strong determination across Member States, across communities, across science, across civil society and across industry to get the treaty done. But a big political and diplomatic push is needed in the coming months, with the engagement of all stakeholders and strong G20 leadership, to lay the ground for success at INC 5.2."
To commemorate International Day of Zero Waste 2025, the public is invited to submit good zero waste practices in the fashion and textiles sector - whether a widely accepted approach or an innovative business model, method, process, or technique that demonstrates effectiveness and contributes to positive zero waste outcomes.
Submissions must feature practices that have been in implementation for at least one year. If the practice has already concluded, it should have been completed as recently as 2024.
Submission deadline: 12 February 2025
The Global Tailings Management Institute (GTMI), an independent, multi-stakeholder governed organisation dedicated to improving the safety of mine tailings facilities worldwide, was launched on 21 January 2025.
It has been founded by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
Based in South Africa, the GTMI will drive the responsible management of tailings facilities throughout their lifecycle. The goal is to achieve zero harm to people and the environment, by overseeing an independent assessment process through which tailings facilities will be audited and certified.
From a landmark deal to fund conservation to chilling news about greenhouse gas emissions, 2024 was a rollercoaster year for the planet.
Here’s a closer look at some of the most memorable environmental moments of the last 12 months, shaped by the UNEP and the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) UNEP hosts that underpin the global environmental movement.
Seules 12% des villes disposent de mesures de la qualité de l'air conformes aux normes de l'OMS
