Namibia urged to act on plastic pollution
Plastic bags are some of the most unsightly forms of waste in Namibia and are highly visible in the outskirts of all towns and city, informal settlements, and the country’s marine environment.
This is according to Benedict Libanda, CEO of the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF), in recognition of World Environment Day, which is observed annually on 5 June.
Libanda, in a statement on Monday, said the prevalence of plastics in the Namibian environment is a considerable threat to human and environmental health.
He said in observance of World Environment Day, EIF supports the ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ campaign and urges Namibians to collectively scale up efforts and partnerships to eradicate plastic pollution.
“The more plastics we produce, the more fossil fuels are required, and the climate catastrophe worsens. Furthermore, plastic items emit greenhouse gases throughout their entire life cycle. If no action is taken, plastic-related greenhouse gas emissions could account for 19% of the Paris Agreement’s total allowable emissions in 2040, exceeding the limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius,” he further emphasised.
The fund reaffirmed its commitment to ending plastic pollution and is proud to champion diverse approaches to combat the plastic pandemic.
“It is time to accelerate these actions and transition to a circular economy,” he said.
According to the statement, a shift to a circular economy (designed to eliminate waste and promote the continual use of resources) can reduce the volume of plastics entering oceans by over 80% by 2040; reduce virgin plastic production by 55%; save governments US$70 billion by 2040; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25%; and create 700 000 additional jobs, mainly in the global south.
World Environment Day is a global platform for inspiring positive change and serves as an environmental awareness day focused on the environment and specific environmental challenges. It takes place on 5 June each year.
The World Environment Day 2023 commemoration focused on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution, which calls for global solutions to combat plastic pollution.