Viewfinder: United Nations Issues Global Challenge to Reduce Ocean Pollution for World Environment Day

Author:: Pacific Standard Staff
Publish date:: Jun 6, 2018

Groups of volunteers clean up plastic waste on a beach in Lima, Peru, during World Environment Day on June 5th, 2018. The United Nations urged people to take steps against the use of plastic bags, as part of a global challenge to reduce the increasing pollution of the oceans. — Groups of volunteers clean up plastic waste on a beach in Lima, Peru, during World Environment Day on June 5th, 2018. The United Nations urged people to take steps against the use of plastic bags, as part of a global challenge to reduce the increasing pollution of the oceans.
(Photo: Ernesto Benavides/AFP/Getty Images)

Viewfinder is Pacific Standard's daily photo feature, showcasing one image from the news.

A plastic fork lies on a beach along the Spree River in the city center on May 29th, 2018, in Berlin, Germany. Europe is struggling to combat plastics pollution in its waterways and seas. It recently announced it will seek to ban the use of certain common plastic items, including plastic cutlery, straws, plates, swabs, and fishing gear.

Europe announced it will seek to ban the use of certain common plastic items, including plastic cutlery, straws, plates, swabs, and fishing gear.

A woman takes a picture while riding her bike during a car-free day in Bogotá, Colombia, on February 1st, 2018. Residents of Bogotá were encouraged to use alternative means of transportation during a car-free day in an attempt to reduce environmental pollution.

A woman takes a picture while riding her bike during a car-free day in Bogotá, Colombia, on February 1st, 2018.

Plastic wastes fill a beach on April 18th, 2018, in Manila, Philippines.

Without action, there will be more plastic than fish in the world's ocean by mid-century.

A sculpture made from over 2,500 plastic bottles recovered from beaches, rivers, and streets from around the United Kingdom is seen outside the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs as part of a stunt by environmental campaign group Greenpeace on February 25th, 2019, in London, England. The sculpture was delivered to DEFRA to apply pressure on Environment Secretary Michael Gove to move forward with a proposed deposit return scheme for bottles and cans bought in the U.K.

A sculpture made from over 2,500 plastic bottles is seen outside the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs on February 25th, 2019, in London, England.

Seagulls search for food near a sewage discharge area next to piles of plastic bottles washed away by the water on the seaside of Ouzai, south of Beirut, on July 19th, 2018. Many Lebanese nationals are refraining from heading to the beach this summer after reports about high levels of pollution along the country's Mediterranean coast, despite reassurances from government officials that the beaches remain safe.

Seagulls search for food near a sewage discharge area next to piles of plastic bottles washed away by the water on the seaside of Ouzai, south of Beirut, on July 19th, 2018.

A man dances on the runway during an eco-fashion show for recycled or biodegradable materials as part of the Fashion for Sustainable Future event in Kisumu, Kenya, on May 31st, 2018. Beat Plastic Pollution will be the theme of this year's World Environment Day on June 5th.

The Week in Photos

Campaigns against single-use plastic waste are picking up steam.