Department of Environmental Sciences co-organized a seminar on “World Environment Day – 2023” in collaboration with Water and Sanitation Services Company Abbottabad (WSSCA) to create awareness regarding plastic contribution to environmental pollution. The theme of this year’s World Environment Day 2023 was “Beat Plastic Pollution” which was held in the main auditorium of CUI Abbottabad Campus. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Maroof Shah, director COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) Abbottabad Campus, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) WSSCA were invited to grace the event. Prof. Dr. Faridullah, HoD – Environmental Sciences, shared his welcome note enlightening the outreach community services of the department. A talk on “Beat Plastic Pollution” was delivered by Dr. Farhan Hafeez. Talking about this very important issue, Dr. Farhan Hafeez briefed the audience on an annual generation of solid waste comprising 18% of plastic waste. He described that Pakistan is adding more than 3.3 million tons of plastic annually that may reach up to 6.12 million tons by 2050 which is very devastating and must be tackled to combat the environmental pollution. Dr. Farhan further enlightened the audience with the ways to reduce and manage plastic pollution. Prof. Dr. Adnan Ahmad Tahir briefed the audience on the relationship between plastic pollution and climate change. Carbon pollutants are transported and deposited over the snow and glacier surfaces, turning them into a dark surface that ultimately enhances heat absorption and causes the glacier to melt. Such accelerated melting may cause hazards including glacier retreat, lake formations, and outburst floods. These hazards cause damage to infrastructure, agriculture, human lives, and settlements. Monitoring of such lakes through remote sensing satellite data may help to alert the downstream communities when a potential outburst is predicted. Mr. Umar Swati from WSSCA highlighted the attitudes, behavior, and responsibilities of society toward the environmental pollution caused by plastic. Prof. Dr.Muhammad Bilal, convener Industry-Academia Liaison Committee, emphasized the importance of linkages of academia and service providers like WSSCA to join hands and develop environmental technology models to showcase low-cost solutions for various environmental issues. Eng. Rehan Yousaf, CEO WSSCA, suggested CUI Abbottabad Campus and selected areas of Abbottabad City be plastic-free places. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Irshad, Chairman – Environmental Sciences, in his closing remarks, thanked the respected delegates for attending the seminar. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Maroof Shah, director CUI, Abbottabad, ensured WSSCA officials his commitment to help and cooperation needed in community services not only in the environment but also for energy optimization and other engineering works being managed by WSSCA. Delegates also visited the biogas and compost facility, being managed by Dr. Iftikhar Zeb of the Biotechnology Dept. Organizers of the program i.e. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Bilal (CUI) and Eng. Wasiq Mansoor (WSSCA) was appreciated for organizing the excellent event. In the end, certificates of appreciation were distributed to the students and faculty while the commemorative shields were to the delegates.