EU Beach Cleanup 2026
EU Delegation to Singapore
More than 120 environmental champions came together at Sembawang Beach on 17 September for the EU Beach Cleanup 2026. The event, which is part of the EU Green Diplomacy Weeks, brought together Team Europe, diplomatic partners, students, youth and Singapore’s environmental community together to tackle marine litter and raise awareness of plastic pollution.
EU Delegation to Singapore
Opening the cleanup, Artis Bērtulis, EU Ambassador to Singapore, called for collective action on a challenge that transcends borders.
“Marine pollution knows no borders, and neither should our response. Our ocean connects us all, and protecting it is a shared responsibility. Today, Team Europe and Singapore are turning that shared responsibility into practical action.”
The scale of the global challenge is stark. UNEP estimates that 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems every year, while plastic accounts for around 85% of marine litter. Without meaningful action, plastic emissions into aquatic ecosystems could nearly triple by 2040.
For Ambassador Bērtulis, the significance of the cleanup goes beyond the litter collected.
“This is not simply about picking up waste. It is about changing how we think about what we consume and what we throw away. A bottle, a wrapper or a piece of fishing line is a reminder that waste does not simply disappear—it can travel from our streets and rivers into the sea.”
He also highlighted the importance of the EU-Singapore partnership in addressing environmental challenges through practical action.
EU Delegation to Singapore
EU Delegation to Singapore
EU Delegation to Singapore
“No country can tackle marine pollution alone. Singapore is an important partner for the European Union and today is a powerful example of what we can achieve when governments, communities and partners work together.”
The cleanup comes against the backdrop of Singapore’s Green Plan 2030, which includes targets to reduce waste and advance more sustainable and circular approaches to consumption and resource use.
The EU Beach Cleanup puts the spotlight on the everyday choices that shape the health of the marine environment - from reducing unnecessary consumption and reusing materials to recycling and preventing waste from entering waterways in the first place.
“Protecting our oceans starts with everyday choices - what we consume, what we reuse, what we recycle and what we leave behind. Small actions can create big impact when we take them together.”
EU Delegation to Singapore
EU Delegation to Singapore
The EU Beach Cleanup is part of the EU’s broader efforts to raise awareness of marine pollution, promote sustainable consumption and encourage collective action for healthier oceans.
EU Delegation to Singapore
EU Delegation to Singapore
EU Delegation to Singapore
EU Delegation to Singapore
Ambassador’s Speech
EU BEACH CLEANUP 2026: Opening Remarks by H.E. Artis Bērtulis, EU Ambassador to Singapore
Thank you - what a great turnout for EU Beach Cleanup 2026!
It’s brilliant to be here with Team Europe, our diplomatic friends and Singapore activists, working together for our planet.
Our oceans aren’t just water—they shape our climate, feed millions, and link us all. Yet every year, 23 million tonnes of plastic end up in them. This is equivalent of 92,000 Olympic pools filled with trash.
Without action, that could triple by 2040. And right now? 85% of marine litter is plastic.
You’ve seen it: a bottle, a wrapper, a tangled fishing line. Each piece is a reminder - this is our waste, our responsibility.
That’s why we’re here. This isn’t just about picking up litter. It’s about changing how we see waste. What we throw away doesn’t vanish - it travels. Into rivers, into seas, into the ocean we all share.
The EU is pushing harder on plastics, waste prevention, and circular solutions. But no country can fix this alone. Singapore gets that.
From the Green Plan 2030 to local action on marine litter, you’re showing what happens when government, business, and people work as one.
Today is proof of that partnership - practical, hands-on, and human. Because protecting our oceans starts with what we choose every day: what we buy, reuse, recycle, or leave behind.
So let’s get to it - small actions, big impact. For the ocean that connects us all. 🌊
#EU4Ocean #EUBeachCleanup #EUBeachCleanup2026 #TeamEurope #ForOurPlanet #WorldCleanupDay