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Marine debris, including plastics, paper, wood, metal and other manufactured material is found on beaches worldwide and at all depths of the ocean.
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World Cleanup Day 2024: Arctic Cities and Marine Litter

The theme of the inaugural event, taking place on 20 September in the city of Troms?, Norway, is “Arctic Cities and Marine Litter”. 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 Troms?, the Fram Centre, and Let’s Do It World, aims to inspire global communities to adopt sustainable practices that protect the arctic regions.

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

The inaugural World Cleanup Day in Troms? showcases Norway’s innovative waste management strategies tailored to harsh climates. The event will highlight 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.

World Cleanup Day 2024 by GRID-Arendal 

Poor waste management is intrinsically linked to the triple planetary crisis: pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change. Combined, the world is greatly accelerating an accumulation of waste and pollution in all ecosystems and threatening ecosystems' balances and health. #worldcleanupday 

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 – to observe World Cleanup Day through activities aimed at raising awareness of the role clean-up efforts play in sustainable development. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) facilitates the observance of the Day.

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.

Did you know?

  • Municipal solid waste generation is predicted to grow from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. () 
  • Without urgent action on waste management, by 2050 the global direct cost of waste management could almost double to a staggering USD 640.3 billion. () 
  • More than two billion people lack access to waste collection, more than three billion to controlled waste recovery or disposal facilities. ()
 

Promoting clean-ups in the lead up to and through the International Day is crucial for contributing to the achievement of the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). movement by exploring the list of events for WCD 2024.

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Related observances

This year’s inaugural event hosted by Troms?, Norway – also known as the capital of the Arctic – is themed “Arctic Cities and Marine Litter”. The event aims to inspire other cities and communities worldwide to adopt sustainable practices that protect our planet’s polar and sub-polar 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.

Cities are responsible for 70 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, with transport, buildings, energy, and waste management accounting for the bulk of urban emissions. By 2050, two-thirds of our global population will live in urban areas. Nearly 90% of the growth in urban population will occur in Asia and Africa. Accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world, features the 5 Malaysian cities taking an integrated approach to low carbon development.

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.