International Day of Zero Waste - United Nations events on 30 March

Ahead of the first annual International Day of Zero Waste on 30 March 2023, championed by Türkiye and 105 other countries, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) are pleased to share an overview of planned events from within the UN system aimed at raising awareness of global zero-waste initiatives addressing issues such as plastic pollution, food loss and waste, natural resource extraction and electronic waste.

UN observance

CR-11, United Nations Headquarters, New York | 1:15–2:30 p.m. EST

UN-Habitat and UNEP are organizing the observance of Zero Waste Day alongside the Office of the President of the General Assembly and the Republic of Türkiye. The observance will highlight global leadership on zero-waste initiatives through sharing success stories and highlighting their potential to protect environmental health and promote sustainability. It will include a moderated session featuring remarks from UN leaders and a keynote session from the Republic of Türkiye.

UNGA high-level meeting

General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters, New York | 10 a.m. to 3 pm EST

The President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will convene a high-level meeting to provide Member States and stakeholders a platform to exchange experiences and success stories in developing and implementing solid waste management solutions and technologies, including zero-waste initiatives to foster the environmentally sound management of waste.

• First letter from the President of the General Assembly
• Second letter from the President of the General Assembly

UNEP/UN-Habitat observance

CR-2 or CR-3, UN Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. EAT

UNEP and UN-Habitat will jointly host a moderated session to discuss the importance of Zero Waste Day and the benefits of zero waste. The observance is being convened by the Governments of Kenya and Türkiye. Government representatives, UN experts and representatives from various stakeholder groups will participate.

UNEP/UN-Habitat Asia Pacific observance

UN Conference Center, Urban Engagement Space, Bangkok, Thailand | 9:45–11:30 a.m.

UNEP, UN-Habitat and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will host a fireside chat during the 10th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. Sessions will cover food waste, greening the blue, the informal sector and waste management. Following the closing session, there will also be a field visit to Chula Zero Waste Initiative at Chulalongkorn University.

• Event page and registration

Geneva Environment Network conference

Online | 1–2:30 p.m. CEST

The UNEP-coordinated Geneva Environment Network will host an online conference, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, featuring 10 speakers from across the UN system, environmental organizations, academia and governments. It will celebrate the steps taken by actors in Geneva and beyond to move forward the zero-waste agenda.

• Event page and registration

UNEP/UNITAR report launch

UNEP and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) are launching the 2050 Electrical & Electronic Waste Outlook in West Asia report on Zero Waste Day. The report provides projections for e-waste generation, challenges of managing e-waste and a step-by-step approach to help countries manage e-waste in an environmentally sound manner in West Asia.

UN-Habitat Pakistan campaign

Online

UN-Habitat Pakistan is organizing an online art competition in partnership with schools. Participants between Grades 3 and 12 are encouraged to submit artwork and a relevant message that clearly states the artwork’s link to zero waste and the International Day of Zero Waste. Winning entries will be selected by a judging panel comprised of professionals from academia, media, and UN-Habitat.

• Event page

UNEP West Asia campaign

21 March to 23 April

UNEP’s Sustainable Ramadan campaign in West Asia aims to raise awareness about the need to switch to more sustainable lifestyles and trigger behavioural change. With the participation of Chef Leyla Fathallah, UNEP’s Advocate on Food Waste in West Asia, the campaign will present zero-waste recipes, tips for sustainable behaviours reducing plastic use, and preserving resources. The campaign runs throughout the month of Ramadan.

• Event page

For more events hosted by UNEP, UN-Habitat, partners and other stakeholders, please click here.