Tallinn,
Estonia, 09 December, 2023
Let’s
Do It World (LDIW), the Estonian-based NGO that initiated and led the annual
World Cleanup Day civic action, announces that the United Nations have
unanimously proclaimed that 20 September will be declared ‘World Cleanup Day’
on the official UN calendar from 2024.
The
UN’s International Calendar of Days and Weeks states that such days are
“occasions to educate the general public on issues of concern, to mobilize
political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and
reinforce achievements of humanity.” There are currently 211 events observed in
the Calendar, and World Cleanup Day is scheduled to be observed on 20 September
each year.
World
Cleanup Day is LDIW’s flagship project. Its primary aim is to raise awareness
of the global mismanaged waste crisis and act as a catalyst for cross-sector
cooperation and education. LDIW targets 5% engagement of the global population,
the tipping point needed for lasting societal behavioral change, thus fostering
a cooperative mindset society towards a circular economy.
Mr
Andre Dzikus, Chief of the Urban Basic Services Section at UN-Habitat, spoke
at COP28 today during the Estonian Pavilion-hosted panel discussion ‘World
Cleanup Day as a Trigger for a Sustainable Change’, observing World Cleanup Day’s
ability to effect global, systemic change; “When we have a critical mass of
population, when we find that tipping point, a large number of people in a
country showing others how to carry out effective waste management, it makes a
difference as a social movement.”
Since
2018, World Cleanup Day’s six annual events have engaged almost 91 million
people, reaching over 1% of the global population, with participants from 211
countries and territories, which include 95% of the UN’s 193 member states.
LDIW
President & Head of Global Network, Heidi Solba, declared, “World Cleanup
Day’s addition to the UN Calendar means stronger support from UN countries’
governments, greater visibility and stronger engagement in forthcoming World
Cleanup Days.”
According
to Solba, “We are witnessing great, impactful actions after each World Cleanup
Day. Already we see LDIW and governments collaborating to implement sustainable
solutions on the local level.
World
Cleanup Day serves as a powerful catalyst, contributing significantly to this
growing trend. The expectation now is that governments and multinational
organizations increase their commitment to driving the systemic change towards
the circular economy that the human race needs,” she emphasized.
The
UN’s decision caps off a record-setting 2023 for the LDIW movement, with 198
countries and territories taking part, which includes 90% of UN member states.
This year’s participation of 19.1 M volunteers is the highest annual figure
since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the second highest in all of
World Cleanup Days’ campaigns.
Inclusion
in the UN Calendar follows on from July’s receipt of the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals Award for Mobilization, thus validating the
movement’s many years of dedication to creating a waste-free world.
Highlights
from 2023’s World Cleanup Day results include Mozambique’s incredible turnout
of 3.25 M volunteers (equal to 10% of its entire population) followed by
Indonesia’s 2.61 M, India’s 2.45 M, USA’s 2.35 M and Mexico’s 1.98 M.
Additionally, in spite of the continued challenges facing Ukraine, their team
still engaged almost 283,000 participants, their second highest ever turnout.
Significantly,
World Cleanup Day 2023’s results saw the emergence of three notable increasing
global trends; participation from young people and students, from local and
national government ministers and officials, and the sheer volume of waste
collected.
The
increase in youth engagement was especially seen in e.g. France (50%) and
Mozambique (67%), with World Cleanup Day’s founding nation, Estonia, reporting
92% of their total as young people.
These
trends offer encouragement that the vital message for necessary change is being
received, with indications from many countries that educational programs are
being added to school curricula, as well as other society-driven initiatives
towards a circular economy.
“The
trend of increasing waste collection amounts only serves to highlight just how
much waste we generate each year, which is a much more worrying trend. Whilst
we recognize the importance and relevance of cleaning actions, we are not only
a cleanup organization, we are primarily an awareness-raising and
solutions-delivering one that addresses part of the triple planetary crisis.
Waste and pollution contribute significantly to that crisis,” concluded Solba.
The
combined results of World Cleanup Day’s actions over the years further
consolidate LDIW’s position as the world’s largest civic action movement in
human history, with an ever-growing active network that includes almost every
nation.
The
addition of World Cleanup Day to the UN Calendar will greatly facilitate the
overall movement’s continued journey towards addressing the global mismanaged
waste crisis, as we strive collectively for a waste-free world.
Spokesperson
for Press/TV/Radio queries:
Heidi
Solba
President
& Head of Global Network
+372 513 4743
Press
release forwarded by:
Jim
Sharman
Head
of Communication
+372
5566 9784
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