Towards a pollution-free planet

As the world’s population approaches 8 billion and resource use intensifies, pollution is ever more extensive, pervasive, and persistent. It affects our health through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. By 2025, the world’s cities will produce 2.2 billion tonnes of waste every year, more than three times the amount produced in 2009. That said, pollution is not a new phenomenon and is largely controllable and often avoidable, as shown in some countries and cities that have succeeded in decoupling economic growth from pollution and waste accumulation.

With the end goal to eradicate all forms of pollution by 2030, the UN Environment Programme was tasked by the UN Environment Assembly to coordinate the implementation of a global plan "Towards a pollution-free planet”. Addressing pollution is not only an environmental priority, it's a priority for the achievement of the SDGs.

Learn more about the global response to pollution.

Explore the different forms of pollution and viable solutions to achieve a pollution-free planet.