“As we are facing a global waste crisis, the UN’s decision to name the World Cleanup Day an international day is significant,” Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. “It contributes to raising awareness about waste management, increasing the number of participants in the cleanup action, thereby leading the world to a cleaner future.”
“Naming the World Cleanup Day an international UN day is an enormous recognition to both Estonia and the millions of people across the world who have joined forces for a common goal for years,” Climate Minister Kristen Michal said. “In global cooperation, everyone’s contribution counts, no matter where people happen to be. By working together, we can create effective change for the cleaner future of the planet. World cleanup changes mindsets,” Michal added.
The World Cleanup Day becoming an international day of the UN ensures a place in the calendar of UN member states and brings greater attention to problems related to the waste crisis. More than 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste is added to the world every year, and if the current trend continues, this number will double by 2050. The World Cleanup Day plays an important role in changing people’s mindsets about waste management and contributes to the removal of municipal waste from the environment. In 2023, 205 000 tonnes of municipal waste was cleaned up in the course of the joint action.
The UN calendar has many international days and weeks aimed at drawing attention to specific topics or challenges, raising awareness about them and spurring countries and people into action.
The World Cleanup Day resolution was the result of a joint initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Climate and the NGO Let’s Do It World.
