At the third session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in 2017, Member States adopted a Ministerial Declaration calling for heightened efforts to address pollution and requesting UNEP to prepare an implementation plan for this purpose. The implementation plan “Towards a Pollution-Free Planet”, developed in consultation with Member States, was endorsed by UNEA4 as the key vehicle for implementing the Declaration. The plan proposes solutions for how to fill capacity gaps in addressing pollution and contributes to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The sound management of chemicals and waste is key to ensuring a pollution-free planet.

Many UN agencies address pollution through their mandates, expertise, and operations, promoting improved environmental quality and human health, supporting multi-stakeholder action in a variety of sectors, and advancing efforts at all levels from global to local. Nevertheless, existing efforts could benefit from stronger synergies, common narratives, and more coordinated action for increased impact.

In October 2021, the EMG’s Senior Officials agreed to establish a Consultative Process on this issue, aiming to prepare a UN system-wide approach towards a pollution-free planet.

• Terms of Reference

Resources

• Roadmap for preparation of the common approach – Concept note (March 2023)
• Mapping report: ‘An Overview of UN Activities and Initiatives related to Pollution’
• Annotated Outline of the UN Common Approach to Pollution 

• The United Nations System  — Common Approach Towards a Pollution-Free Planet: Full Report | Summary

• UN Common Offer to support the transition towards a plastic pollution-free planet
• UN Common Offer Annex:  Mapping UN Efforts on Plastic Pollution