国际英语资讯:UN concludes environmental assembly with pledges to end pollution_时事

国际英语资讯:UN concludes environmental assembly with pledges to end pollution

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for air quality, more than 17,000 people die prematurely due to ill health associated with pollution.

Hundreds of children below the age of five die from contaminated water and poor hygiene while women and girls continue to be affected from smoke emanating from fuel wood.

The ministers noted that it is unfortunate that every year 4.8 to 12.7 million tons of plastic are dumped in oceans while 40 million tons of electronic waste are generated annually and increase every year by 4 to 5 percent, causing severe damage to ecosystems, livelihoods and health.

Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said the assembly on Wednesday put the fight against pollution high on the global political agenda.

"We have a long struggle ahead of us, but the summit showed there is a real appetite for significant positive change. It isn't just about the UN and governments, though," Solheim said.

He said the huge support from civil society, businesses and individuals -- with millions of pledges to end pollution -- "show that this is a global challenge with a global desire to win this battle together."

The environment ministers for the first time issued a declaration, calling for the world to honor efforts to prevent, mitigate and manage the pollution of air, land and soil, freshwater, and oceans -- which harms health, societies, ecosystems, economies, and security.