National Current Affairs
Varkala Included in the United Nations Global ‘Zero Waste City’ List
- 03 Apr 2026
- 2 min read
Why in News?
Varkala in Kerala has been included in the “20 Cities Towards Zero Waste” initiative led by the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste, with support from UN-Habitat and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Key Points
- Recognition: Varkala has been selected among 20 cities worldwide demonstrating innovative and ambitious approaches to waste reduction and sustainable urban development.
- Objective:
- Recognises city leadership and innovative initiatives.
- Encourages the exchange of best practices and lessons learned.
- Motivates other cities to speed up their transition toward a zero-waste model.
- Promotes the adoption of circular economy practices at the local level.
- Contribution to SDGs: The initiative contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG-13 (Climate Action).
- International Day of Zero Waste:
- The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 14 December 2022, during its 77th session
- The Day is observed annually on 30 March across the world.
- The observance is facilitated by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme.
- 2026 Theme: Food Waste.
| Read More: UNEP, United Nations |
