In 2025, the world bore witness to an extraordinary act of courage, hope, and unwavering solidarity. Amidst the chaos of conflict and ecological devastation, our international movement Let’s Do It World boldly declared that humanity’s greatest strength lies in our collective ability to act and rebuild.
The decision to host World Cleanup Day 2025’s global Call and Media Centre, together with its live broadcast, in Kyiv was made deliberately by the leadership of Let’s Do It World. It was not only symbolic but also a defiant statement that even in the darkest hours of war, the human spirit can spark change.
At the same time, it was a strategic move grounded in moral conviction—a demonstration of leadership and a declaration that the world’s most challenging conflicts cannot silence the call for environmental action, peace, and collective rebuilding. From Kyiv, the broadcast reached every time zone in our global network, carrying stories from the city’s streets as well as deeper insights from environmentalists and experts in post-war restoration.
The deeper we delve into the war and its impact on the global environment, the more clearly we see the wider environmental situation. Today, over 60 conflicts rage across the world—more than at any time since the Second World War. These wars leave behind a devastating trail of destruction, not only claiming lives but also damaging nature itself. Polluted soils, poisoned waters, scorched forests, and ruined ecosystems scar the land.
For example, in Ukraine alone, the war has inflicted over $56 billion in environmental damage since February 2022. Wildfires triggered by military actions burned more than 965,000 hectares of land in 2024—more than double the burned area in the EU that year. The land, water, and forests are heavily contaminated with hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, and arsenic. About 40% of Ukraine’s soil has been contaminated, and hundreds of thousands of hectares of forests have been affected or destroyed. Additionally, over 230 million metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions have been generated—equal to the annual emissions of Austria, Hungary, Czechia, and Slovakia combined.
At Let’s Do It World, as a global organisation, we stand in full solidarity with all nations and communities suffering from conflict and ecological disaster. We recognise that war is temporary, but its environmental damage can last for generations. Every war will end one day—there is no conflict that lasts forever and when that time comes, communities face the urgent task of rebuilding their land, their environment, and their social fabric.
It is here that our movement can make the most profound difference—as a global civil movement, we have a responsibility: to lead the way on how collective action can rebuild ecosystems and lives. When communities come together, they do more than clean their land—they lay the foundations for lasting peace.
Beyond its environmental impacts, World Cleanup Day’s mission goes even deeper. We understand that war’s toll isn’t just on the environment—it affects the mental health of millions. Trauma, grief, fear—these are daily realities for many people caught in conflict zones. That’s why we believe that collective action—working together to restore land, clean rivers, and rebuild communities—provides more than ecological benefits. It offers psychological healing. When people unite in purpose and hope, they find strength, resilience, and a renewed sense of agency. They realise they are not alone, that their efforts matter, and that peace and healing are within reach.
World Cleanup Day is about more than cleaning up trash—it is about creating a new pattern of togetherness for the world. We demonstrate that grassroots efforts, shared responsibility, and collective hope are the strongest tools for lasting change. We pave the way for ecological and social recovery, proving that healing is possible even in the toughest situations. Every act of cleanup, every community effort, and every shared moment of hope brings us closer to a peaceful, sustainable future.
The strategic and moral act of choosing Ukraine for the global Call and Media Centre and its Broadcast was inspired by the impact of LDIW Ukraine’s World Cleanup Day actions during war-time. In a country ravaged by war but filled with incredible resilience, Let’s Do It Ukraine has become a symbol of what is possible when communities refuse to give up. Last year, over 400,000 Ukrainians took part in World Cleanup Day, despite ongoing fighting. Their courage sent a powerful message: no matter how dark the situation, hope and collective effort can rebuild what war has broken.
On this year’s World Cleanup Day, our global movement brought together volunteers from over 190 countries—including people in conflict zones, countries embroiled in violence, and peaceful nations—all working side-by-side. We showed the world that environmental restoration and peacebuilding are interconnected. When communities unite to clean rivers, plant trees, and remove waste, they also rebuild trust, understanding, and hope.
As we look ahead, World Cleanup Day stands as proof that peace can begin with action. The spirit of unity shown in Kyiv and across the globe in 2025 reminds us that violence cannot extinguish human resilience. By continuing to act together, we can restore our environment, strengthen our communities, and shape a future where sustainability and peace go hand in hand.
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