Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 5 June 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, says plastic pollution is choking the planet, harming ecosystems, well-being, and the climate. Today marks World Environment Day under the theme, Putting an End to Plastic Pollution. An estimated 20-million metric tons of plastic litter end up in the environment every year, and this number is expected to increase significantly by 2040. Guterres says the world must come together to end the scourge of plastic pollution:

And, staying with Environment Day, South Africans are being encouraged to reuse their Rooibos tea leaves as part of efforts to reduce waste. The South African Rooibos Council says over 3.5-billion cups of Rooibos are consumed each year, offering an opportunity to repurpose used tea into compost, natural scrubs, or moth repellents. The council’s Adele du Toit says with only ten-percent of waste recycled, Rooibos offers a simple way to go green and support a cleaner environment:

# And finally: The organisation UN Trade and Development has warned that the global ocean economy faces mounting pressure from environmental and political shocks. In its Global Trade Update June 2025 report, the organisation emphasised the ocean’s vital role in jobs, food, innovation, and trade. Valued at 39-quadrillion-rand and supporting 100-million jobs, the sector faces risks from climate change, pollution, and rising tariffs. Ahead of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference next week in Nice, France, the organisation urges stronger ocean governance, green investment, fairer trade, and climate-adaptive marine infrastructure.

Stay tuned for more news………….