World Environment Day 2018: Host country India to focus on 'Beat Plastic Pollution' theme

Single use plastics are choking up our planet and our oceans. We must all take individual action and embrace the efforts of young people to care for environment. Nairobi is on board to #BeatPlasticPollution and keep our environment green! Tag you're all it! pic.twitter.com/g5tgrBcbDm

— UN Environment (@UNEnvironment) May 29, 2018

The objective behind choosing this theme is to make sure that we avoid the use of plastic in our daily lives and to reduce the burden of plastic pollution on our natural places, our wildlife - and their own health.

While plastic has many valuable uses, we have become over-reliant on single-use or disposable plastic - with severe environmental consequences.

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For consumers, the #BeatPlasticPollution action is clear - if you can’t reuse it, refuse it.
But what about manufacturing? Here are some innovative alternatives to help fight plastic waste. https://t.co/f2cJIaAYyW

— UN Environment (@UNEnvironment) June 2, 2018

Every World Environment Day has a different global host country, where the official celebrations take place. This year it is India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an event marking the World Environment Day today. He will also visit the exhibition set up on the occasion at the Rajpath lawns.

Here’s just one example of what you can do to #BeatPlasticPollution. Learn more about the problem & the solutions here: https://t.co/2ClMr9xQzk #WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/VwLLeu1Lyv

— UN Environment (@UNEnvironment) June 3, 2018

Union Minister of State for Environment, Dr Mahesh Sharma told ANI that, "plastic is a necessity for us, but it shouldn't become a curse. We have to abolish the use of single-use plastic in the world. We have a responsibility towards environment and mother nature".

Our aim is to make India and world's home plastic-free to avoid enormous pollution to our environment and to our own health. This must stop and there's no one better to inspire to this than Mahatma Gandhi and Sadhguru, said UN Environment Executive Director, Erik Solheim to news agency ANI.

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