Climate ministry calls for collaborative efforts to raise awareness about plastic pollution, Sherry Rehman

Islamabad 5 June 2023 (Adnan Hameed ) : Federal Minister for Climate Change addressing an event in connection with World Environment Day, she called for collaborative efforts at different levels to raise awareness amongst the masses about the hazards of using plastic. She said the people's rejection of plastics will push the manufacturers and producers to find alternative solutions that are environment friendly. Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Senator Sherry Rehman stated that the youth and public at large had a key role in showing resistance and pressure towards plastics manufacturers to phase out single-use polythene products like bags and bottles causing serious pollution and environmental degradation in the country. She emphasised the need of motivating the general public to step forward and take the lead in fighting plastic pollution which was insurmountable without mass support and acceptance. Senator Sherry Rehman said the impacts of single use plastics degrading the environment were conspicuous and glaring. She added that the threshold where once the level of degradation, toxicity and overheating was done due to plastic pollution could reach to a level, if left unabated, where it would not be reversible. She mentioned that there was very little data available on recycling of plastics as the country was not recycling over 70% of its plastic waste. "Plastics do not degrade and it's a complete canard that it vanishes from the environment after sometime. It takes more time than our entire life to degrade. Plastics could be banned in three years but cannot be removed completely," she said. Senator Rehman informed that the country produced some 3.3 million metric tonnes of plastics that would go beyond 12 million metric tonnes by 2040. "People would have to stop using plastics. MoCC is intervening in the market and meeting producers and manufacturers to begin the journey of switching to biodegradable alternatives," she said. She appreciated Serena Hotels in taking no plastic initiatives and promoting further. The global community comes together to address one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time: plastic pollution. With the theme "Beating the Plastic Pollution," this year's World Environment Day serves as a wake-up call for individuals, communities, businesses, and governments to take effective action in combating the devastating impacts of plastic on our planet. IUCN Pakistan, Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination jointly organized an observance event of the World Environment Day 2023. Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan in his welcome address, highlighted IUCN global and Pakistan’s significant achievements which are, but not limited to, introducing community-based trophy hunting guidelines, mangroves restoration and development of the Climate Change Gender Action Plan (ccGAP) to name a few. Regarding plastic pollution globally and in Pakistan, Mr. Cheema emphasized the fact that we are consuming Nano-plastics through our food, water and air. About 400 million tons of plastic is produced annually that ends up in our oceans, soil and ultimately in our food system. IUCN has taken global initiatives in beating plastic pollution, including projects like MARRPLASTICS and research on beating plastic pollution in the Baltic region. Syed Mujtaba Hussain, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination thanked IUCN for its effective collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change. He stated that the plastic pollution is the most pressing issue and a global concern of today. It has entered our daily lives via food, water and air thus posing critical consequences on environment and human health. While highlighting the ministry’s efforts to beat and regulate plastic pollution in the country, Mr. Mujtaba stated that the ministry formulated the National Hazardous Waste Management Policy as well as the Clean Air Act, both of which focus on reducing plastic pollution in Pakistan. Currently, the ministry is working towards introducing Plastics Prohibition Regulation 2023 to completely ban the single use plastics including plastic cutlery and utensils in Islamabad area. The regulation is with the cabinet and will be approved soon. The ministry is also implementing a polythene bags regulation to ban polythene bags especially in ICT. A short IUCN video documentary focused on the topic of marine plastics was screened for the audience to promote implementation of the Take, Make and Dispose model. The high-level panel discussion comprised of dignitaries, which was chaired by the Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Senator Sherry Rehman. The panel initiated with the remarks of H.E. Mr. Suh Sangpyo, The Ambassador Republic of Korea in Pakistan who shed light on the continuous collaboration of Korea with Pakistan on some of the crucial projects rela