Environment Minister Nils Clarke marked World Environment Day on Monday, saying the territory “joins Canada and the global community to celebrate the natural environment and to highlight our continued collaborative efforts to protect the environment for future generations.”

This year’s World Environment Day theme is finding solutions to plastic pollution.

It’s estimated that up to 23 million tonnes of plastic ends up in lakes, rivers and seas around the world each year, affecting more than 800 species, Clarke noted.

“The Yukon has taken a leadership role in Canada in reducing the amount of plastic pollution in the environment by banning single-use plastic bags in 2022, followed by a single-use paper bag ban in 2023,” he said.

The Yukon is working toward establishing an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation.

“This regulation would aim to transfer the cost of recycling from recycling processors and governments to the material producers themselves,” the minister noted.

“Following the example set by every province, the Yukon is taking steps to adopt this approach.

“The Yukon is home to some of Canada’s most beautiful landscapes and natural environments,” Clarke added.

“Today, and every day, let’s continue to be vigilant in reducing plastic waste in our communities and across our territory.”