The Earth is not a disposable. It is a living, breathing eco system that sustains us and it is in deep trouble
World Environment Day, observed globally on June 5 each year, is more than just a commemorative date — it is a call to consciousness, a collective reminder that the future of our planet depends on the choices we make every single day. Established in 1972 at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm and first celebrated in 1973, the day has grown into one of the world’s most important platforms for environmental awareness, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). But despite the rallies, speeches, and awareness campaigns that mark the occasion, the environmental crises we face are not once-a-year problems. They are daily emergencies that demand sustained attention, not seasonal reflection.
This year, the theme of World Environment Day 2025 — “Beat Plastic Pollution†— draws attention to one of the most insidious threats to our environment. Plastic pollution has reached nearly every corner of the Earth, and alarmingly, it is now present inside the human body as microplastics. According to the United Nations, over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, half of which is intended for single use. Yet less than 10 per cent of it is recycled. Around 11 million tonnes of this plastic end up in our lakes, rivers, and oceans annually, wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems and entering the food chain. On average, every human being is estimated to consume more than 50,000 plastic particles per year and this number rises sharply when we factor in the plastic we inhale.
The crisis is no longer looming on the horizon; it is already within and around us. The significance of World Environment Day lies not just in its reach — observed now in over 150 countries — but in its intent to trigger real change. It is meant to bring together Governments, businesses, communities, and individuals to reflect, reform, and respond to the threats facing the environment. But the sobering truth is that this one day, no matter how powerfully celebrated, cannot offset 364 days of indifference or inaction. The planet doesn’t need another symbolic gesture; it needs a shift in mindset and behaviour.
What makes this challenge so complex is the deeply embedded nature of plastic in modern life. Many countries still lack robust infrastructure for recycling, while corporate responsibility in the production and disposal of plastic remains limited. The environmental damage emerging from our daily choices has gone far beyond human society — it is disrupting ecosystems, killing wildlife, contaminating our water sources, and accelerating climate change.
Reversing this trend will require more than policy changes or isolated clean-up drives. It demands a cultural transformation — a reorientation of how we live, produce, consume, and dispose. Governments must go beyond drafting regulations and ensure that they are implemented with urgency and integrity. Corporations must step up and take responsibility for the life cycle of their products. Every piece of plastic we refuse, every ecosystem we restore, and every habit we change brings us one step closer to a sustainable future.
