The menace of plastic pollution still a problem in Botswana
Botswana Climate Change Network (BCCN) in partnership with the US Embassy Botswana, Champs Botswana, LFG Media, and EcoGirl Africa, hosted the commemorations of Earth Day at Mebala Youth Studios in Gaborone, where various environmental topics were covered.
Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 under the guidance of EARTH.ORG. is year’s theme “Planet Vs. Plastics” underscores the critical issue of plastic pollution and its impact on ecosystems, wildlife, and human health, according to chief organiser of the event and PR and Communications Officer at BCCN, Boitumelo Marumo.
She said the evidence of plastic pollution is the world’s worst kept secret, and said Botswana is not an exception in the case.
“We see plastic pollution in our surroundings, and it harms ecosystems, poses a danger to wildlife and farming, Botswana’s natural beauty and human health,” she said, noting that the event was created with the intention to interrogate Botswana’s response to plastic pollution and create the well-needed call to action through the Youth Declaration on Plastic Pollution.
“is document was populated through online surveys, email submissions and from the discussions at the Earth Day commemoration,” Marumo said.
She said Botswana faces significant challenges with plastic pollution, exacerbated by ineffective policies and enforcement mechanisms.
“Despite attempts to introduce a plastic levy and ban plastic carrier bags, these initiatives have not been successfully implemented. e urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address these issues is crucial. Moreover, as the younger generation will inherit this ongoing environmental crisis, empowering and mobilising youth is essential for fostering long-term sustainable solutions,” she said.
According to Statistics Botswana, Botswana Selected Environmental Indicators Digest, 2021, it has been estimated that Botswana produces 838.27 tonnes of plastic and paper waste.
is only accounts for salvaged waste, and represents 55.29 percent of all waste salvaged from waste management facilities in Botswana.
e Global Plastic Treaty calls for a 60 percent reduction in all plastic production by 2040, aligning with the upcoming UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution. e youth at the event encouraged Batswana to sign the Global Plastics Treaty Petition, which can be found online, to solve this problem.
US Ambassador to Botswana Howard Van Vranken, encouraged people to join hands in caring for the planet.
“As we engage in dialogue, education, and advocacy surrounding this critical issue, let us recommit ourselves to being stewards of our planet. Let us challenge ourselves to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and to advocate for policies and practices that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship,” he said.
Chairperson of the Board at BCCN, Dr Douglas Rasbash challenged everyone to promote sustainability and environmental protection, saying this is one of the possible ways to improve sustainability.
“As we advocate for the best on this critical issue, let us challenge ourselves to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and to advocate for policies and practices that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship,” he said.
Studies have shown that plastic pollution poses severe dangers to marine life through entanglement and ingestion, leading to habitat destruction and species’ decline.
“Moreover, microplastics have entered the food chain, potentially harming human health,” Marumo said, adding that the theme aims at rallying individuals, communities, and governments to adopt sustainable practices and policies to reduce plastic waste and protect the planet. She also indicated that the impacts of plastic production and pollution on the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution are a catastrophe in the making.
Marumo also clarified that BCCN’s Earth Day was commemorated under their initiative called Climate Cafe. This is a dialogic initiative aimed at convening the youth of Botswana to discuss issues of climate change, opportunities in the green transition, and a collaborative approach to finding solutions.