United Nations (UN) Observes World Cleanup Day on September 20, 2025.

The United Nations (UN) annually observes World Cleanup Day on September 20 to raise awareness about global clean-up efforts and promote sustainable waste management. The 2025 observance emphasizes tackling the rapidly growing issue of textile and fashion waste.

      - On 8 December 2024, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/78/122, officially designating 20 September as World Cleanup Day. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) facilitates the observance. The first celebration occurred on 18 September 2024, following a recommendation from the United Nations Habitat Assembly in resolution 2/3 on 9 June 2023.

      - The 2025 observance targets textile and fashion waste, a major environmental challenge. Globally, the fashion industry generates around 92 million tonnes (MT) of textile waste annually, much of which ends up in landfills or is incinerated, contributing to pollution and climate change.

      - The Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) initiative, led by the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) with World Bank (WB) support, works to reduce marine plastic pollution and promote sustainable production and innovation in material use.

Main Point :-   (i) India actively participates through campaigns like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA or Clean India Mission) launched in 2014 to eliminate open defecation and promote cleanliness.

      (ii) India actively participates through campaigns like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA or Clean India Mission) launched in 2014 to eliminate open defecation and promote cleanliness. The International Coastal Cleanup Day, supported by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), engages citizens in keeping beaches and marine environments clean.

(iii) The Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar (Clean Coast, Safe Sea) campaign, launched in 2022, covers 75 Indian beaches, while global events like UN dialogues and community cleanups in Nairobi highlight international efforts against pollution and textile waste.
About United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)