BY EPHREM ANDARGCHEW
In 1992, the UN General Assembly voted to make June 5 as World Environment Day (WED) because people started experiencing the negative effects of climate change. Climate change and pollution affect the lives of people, animals, and biodiversity.
In 1993, the first celebration of WED was celebrated under the slogan “Only One Earth”. Since then, WED has developed as a platform to promote awareness regarding the problems that the planet faces, such as air pollution, plastic pollution, illegal wildlife trade, sustainable consumption, sea-level rise, and food security. Moreover, WED initiatives change consumption patterns and national and international environmental policies.
This year, the celebration of WED focuses on solutions to plastic pollution, using the hash tag and slogan #BeatPlasticPollution. Plastic pollution has created mounting problems for this planet. For instance, more than 430 million metric tons of plastic are produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than ten percent is recycled. An estimated 19 to 23 million metric tons end up in lakes, rivers, and seas annually. Furthermore, micro plastics, like tiny plastic elements up to 5mm in diameter, find their way into food, water, and air. It is estimated that each person on the planet consumes more than 50,000 plastic elements per year and many more if inhalation is considered. Discarded or burned single-use plastic harms human health and biodiversity and pollutes every ecosystem from mountain tops to the ocean floor.
With existing science and solutions to reverse plastic pollution challenges, governments, companies, and other stakeholders should enhance and speed up actions to solve this crisis. This will help to underscore the prominence of World Environment Day in promoting and mobilizing transformative deeds from every corner of the world. A resolution was also adopted in 2022 at the United Nations Environment Assembly to have a legally binding tool on plastic pollution that includes the marine environment, with the ambition to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024.
Plastic pollution indeed causes serious negative impacts on the planet. Many suggest various solutions to reduce the impacts of plastic pollution on human life, animals, and biodiversity. Among others, the UN Environmental Program 2023 report proposes a systems change to address the causes of plastic pollution, combining reducing problematic and unnecessary plastic use with a market transformation towards circularity in plastics.
This can be achieved by accelerating three key shifts such as reuse, recycle, and reorienting and diversifying actions to deal with the legacy of plastic pollution. Reuse refers to the transformation of the ‘throwaway economy’ to a ‘reuse society’ where reusing plastic products makes more economic sense than throwing them away. The report highlights the importance of accelerating the recycling market for plastic recycling by ensuring that recycling becomes a more profitable venture.
Reorient and diversifying refer to shifting the market towards sustainable plastic alternatives, which will require a shift in consumer demand, regulatory frameworks, and costs. The report further explains that these solutions are available now and that a systems change, underpinned by the necessary regulatory instruments, will result in a range of economic benefits and reduce damage to human health, the environment, and the climate.
Taking these facts and the negative impact of plastic pollution into account, various efforts have been made to ban plastic pollution across the country. Besides, Ethiopia has been formulating rules and guidelines to regulate pollution in a bid to live in harmony with the environment. The Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Authority (AAEPA) also organized an exhibition between 2 to 4 June at the Golf Club here under the theme: “Beat Plastic Pollution” aiming at promoting and increasing awareness of interventions in Ethiopia that contribute to environmental sustainability and climate action in the presence of various sections of the society.
Citing the importance of protecting the environment, the AAEPA General Director Deda Diriba said that it is very important to continue creating sustainable ways of living, working, and developing while protecting, restoring, and creating new ecosystems for not only Ethiopia but also the world. He further stated: “World environment day is an important day which reminds us that we as global citizens still have much work to do to create a more equitable, climate resilient and sustainable world.”
Celebrating environment day plays an essential role by serving as a podium to empower by educating and enlighten citizens and rising awareness on how to live in harmony with our environment. “It is time to strengthen the capacities of city governments in the design of policies and initiatives along with stakeholders to halt citywide greenhouse emissions, work on treating river basins, dirt that come from hospitals, universities, and homes that pollute the environment. Similarly, emissions such as industrial, vehicles and disturbing sounds that come from various sources will be regulated, “Deda indicated.
However, various activities such as tree planting, and waste picking have been held, but the country hasn’t got the intended outcomes. Even so far, plastic products and other related plastic materials have been prohibited from being imported, it is a day-to-day observation that plastic materials and trash are everywhere, he added. Karibu Events PLC General Manager, Teshome Negash on his part said that as part of the global movement to create an environment friendly society and sustainable economy, Ethiopia has been embarking on a green and sustainable path.
“Being one of few African nations to implement a national Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE), Ethiopia is in a leading position to lead the continent in having a green economy,” he underscored. It was learned that more than 400 million tons of plastic are produced every year worldwide, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than 10 percent is recycled. An estimated 19-23 million tons end up in lakes, rivers, and seas annually. “For Ethiopia green growth is necessary as well as an opportunity to seize and realize our country’s huge potential in renewable energy,” he added.
Indeed, celebrating the day has an important contribution to combatting the negative effect of plastic pollution and related problems by creating awareness. But more importantly, the day should be celebrated to show the commitment of the government, people, stakeholders, and so on. In this way, it is possible to achieve the intended result and save the environment and this planet.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 6 JUNE 2023
