UN hosts waste artwork exhibition in Beijing

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02:50

June 5 marks the annual World Environment Day – a time when international communities are encouraged to reflect on the impact of plastic waste on planet Earth and all lives that dwell within it.

With the United Nations determined to rid the oceans and forests of toxins from plastics, this year's occasion with the theme "Beat Plastic Pollution" advocates that when it comes to recycling and taking care of our planet, every step is just as important as the first.

To mark the day and to show how China is serious about its environmental commitments, Chinese artists have come together to show how easy it is to turn ordinary solid waste into a useful resource.

UN Environment Art Installation Exhibition: "Clean Waters and Green Mountains – Taoism" /CGTN Photo

Stretching over 80 meters long, Chinese artist and designer Ye Feng turned what was once some leftover plastic film used in construction now into an artwork on display at the Beijing Museum of Urban Planning.

By combining traditional Chinese calligraphy with this new medium, Feng shows how waste can be effectively applied in the creative process.

Ye Feng, artist and deputy dean at the Beijing Film Academy School of Digital Media /China Environment News Photo

"This medium symbolizes the modern era. The calligraphy includes thoughts from Confucism and Taoism...and I want to use this combination of old and new media to encourage people to think about how to protect our home," said Feng, deputy dean at the Beijing Film Academy School of Digital Media.

Supported by UN Environment, similar waste-art exhibitions will be held in Shanghai, Hong Kong as well as in other major cities in Southeast Asia and the Pacific regions including Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, New Delhi, Apia, Auckland, Sydney, and Denpasar in the coming weeks.

In addition to the art exhibit, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment will also be hosting more events with local governments next week to raise awareness on environmental protection.

Tu Ruihe, head of UN Environment China Office /China Environment News Photo

"Beijing is the capital city of China, if we get Beijing on board with what we're doing, the influence can be nation-wide," said Tu Ruihe, head of UN Environment China Office.

"Shanghai is the biggest commercial city with many influential figures there as well. If they can take the lead in reducing the usage of plastic, the benefit will be larger than any other city," Tu said.

Nicholas Rosellini, China UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative /China Environment News Photo

With China already looking to increase efforts on proper waste management by tightening standards for recycling and imported materials, Nicholas Rosellini, China UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative said this can help the country become greener and better meet its sustainable development goals (SDG).

"China has already shown itself to be a champion of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the SDGs in total. We can see already a lot of efforts being put into the production side in terms of introduction of clean technologies, use of renewable energy and on the consumption side, there's a growing public awareness of the need to reduce consumption, to reuse what you have and to recycle."

According to Rosellini, there are nearly nine billion tons of plastic waste in the world and only nine percent of it is recycled. He said if such a rate of consumption continues, there will be 12 billion tons of plastic waste created by 2025.

The exhibition opened on June 2 in the Chinese capital and was attended by top UN representatives and Chinese officials.

The artwork will be on display until June 5.