World Cleanup Day 2024

The inaugural event of the World cleanup Day celebrated on 20th September. To observe World Cleanup Day through activities aimed at raising awareness of the role clean-up efforts play in sustainable development. 

Background

• On 8 December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly, in its seventy-eighth session, unanimously adopted resolution 78/122 “World Cleanup Day”, which proclaims 20 September as World Cleanup Day.
• The resolution invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations, and other relevant stakeholders – including civil society, the private sector and academia.
• The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) facilitates the observance of the Day.

What to expect?

• Over the years, many national, regional and local governments and communities have been undertaking clean-up activities globally.
• World Cleanup Day represents the reflection on their achievements.
• The clean-ups serve as a reminder of the collective responsibility we share in preserving and maintaining a clean and healthy environment as well as sustainable waste and resources management.

Inaugural event this year

• Host – Norway
• Theme –  “Arctic Cities and Marine Litter”
• Aim –  To inspire other cities and communities worldwide to adopt sustainable practices that protect our planet’s polar and subpolar regions.
• The day aims to mobilize people globally to participate in coordinated voluntary action, empowering collaboration, and raising broad awareness of the need to reduce waste pollution tangibly.
• Partners of the Event – Convened with support from UN-Habitat, GRID-Arendal, and the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, the municipality of Tromsø (City in Norway), the Fram Centre.

Why has the Arctic been a focus point?

• The Arctic’s delicate ecosystem necessitates focused efforts on plastic and marine litter clean-up.
• Cities like Tromsø, within the Arctic Circle, face unique challenges due to extreme weather, isolation, and costly infrastructure.

Expectations from Event

• The role of innovation, community involvement, and collaboration in creating sustainable waste systems that protect the Arctic environment and contribute to global waste reduction efforts.
• It also emphasizes the importance of professional cleanups and innovative funding mechanisms in tackling waste management challenges in complex urban settings.