Executive summary

Growing levels of waste and pollution are jeopardizing our ecosystems and affecting human health globally. In 2022, UN Member States agreed on a resolution to create a legally binding agreement by 2024 to end plastic pollution, while also adopting a resolution proclaiming 30 March as the International Day of Zero Waste. With an urgent call-to-action voiced by Member States during the first High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Zero Waste held on 30 March 2023, the international community recognized the pressing need to address the escalating crisis of poor and inadequate waste management that is affecting the health of people, ecosystems, and economies.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Responsible Consumption and Production

Life Below Water