Today, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik (Spadina-Fort York) and Councillor Dianne Saxe (University-Rosedale) were joined by former Lieutenant Governor, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, and Rafael Peralta, Director, United Nations Environment Programme, North America to celebrate World Environment Day in Toronto’s Harbourfront neighbourhood.
This year, the City of Toronto is honoured to be designated as the World Environment Day host city for North America. As the host city, Toronto is recognized as a climate leader as seen through the City’s prioritization of circular innovation, environmental sustainability and urban forestry management.
World Environment Day is celebrated globally each year on June 5 to raise awareness of and encourage action for environmental protection. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1973, World Environment Day now engages more than 150 countries in addressing environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainability and pollution.
This year’s theme of “Beat Plastic Pollution” highlights the growing global crisis of plastic pollution and encourages governments, businesses, communities and individuals to rethink how they use and dispose of plastic.
The event featured the declaration of Toronto as North America’s host city, along with a “trash-trapping” demonstration in Lake Ontario led by the University of Toronto’s Trash Team – a science-based community outreach organization of students, researchers, staff and volunteers who work to reduce plastic pollution in the city’s ecosystems and increase waste literacy in the community.
Trash trapping involves floating trash cans that clean up litter from the water’s surface by pumping water through a mesh bag that creates a vacuum and draws in floating debris. More information about trash trapping can found on the University of Toronto’s website: www.uofttrashteam.ca/trappingtrash.
World Environment Day Picnic Celebration
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, the City will host a World Environment Day Picnic Celebration at Christie Pits Park. The event will feature live music by local artists, food vendors using reusable dishware, eco-friendly pop-ups, fun family activities, a tree and pollinator-friendly native plant giveaway and more. More information is available on the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/world-environment-day-picnic-celebration.
The City is committed to environmental responsibility through local partnerships and targeted programs including the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy. By promoting reuse and repair, reducing plastic waste, expanding the urban tree canopy and supporting businesses, industries and residents in adopting sustainable practices, Toronto is taking meaningful action on climate change.
Recognized globally as a leader in urban forest management and biodiversity conservation, the City has been named as Role Model City in the United Nations Environment Programme’s Generation Restoration and has been designated as Tree City of the World for the last six consecutive years. This recognition reflects Toronto’s commitment to expanding and maintaining its urban forest across all communities.
Quotes:
“World Environment Day is as a global call to action—uniting communities, organizations, and governments in the shared mission to address the climate crisis and make our cities and planet healthier, more sustainable and resilient. Toronto is proud to be recognized as the designated host city for North America and acknowledged as a climate leader in circular innovation, urban forest management, and environmental sustainability.”
– Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik (Spadina-Fort York)
“In these challenging times, World Environment Day celebrates the amazing natural planet that we share and must look after. Whether it’s reducing plastic, cutting fossil fuels, or protecting nature, every choice can bring us closer to a livable future for all. I will not eat from plastic today, what about you?”
– Councillor Dianne Saxe (University-Rosedale)
“Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes. Plastic pollution is a global problem that calls for collective action.On World Environment Day, we are encouraging individuals, organizations, industries, cities and governments to adopt sustainable practices that drive systemic change.”
– Rafael Peralta, Director, United Nations Environment Programme, North America
Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on X, Instagram or Facebook.