Youth, public resistance to plastics, only solution to phase

May 17, 2023

On June 5, 2023, 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 and the Serena Hotels in Islamabad jointly organized an observance event of the World Environment Day 2023.

Group photo of the panelists with Senator Sherry Rehman, Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination

World Environment Day 2023 - Audience at the high level panel discussion

On the sidelines, a photo exhibition titled After Us The Deluge - the work of renowned Dutch photographer Kadir van Lohuizen was organized with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands.

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 related to renewable energy, solar street lights, hydropower projects and fight against climate change. He showed high interest in Pakistan's efforts towards reducing plastic use and ensured his assistance in this regard.Mr. Christopher James Warner, Senior Environment Specialist at The World Bank Pakistan stated that so much plastic has been introduced in the daily lives of human beings, we now have almost everything replaced with plastic and are experiencing a plastic crisis. There are major economic costs associated with this such as the costs for the plastic cleanup, which are unaffordable. However, solutions are there which require maximum focus.H.E. Ms. Lianne Houben, Chargé d' Affaires, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Pakistan stated that we all are spoiled in using plastics as easy alternate. Plastic pollution has become a critical challenge for our new generations and therefore, we all have a duty to not leave it as legacy for the future generations. Ms. Lianne specified that only 9% of the total plastic waste is recycled globally. However, if consumers stop buying plastic, the industry will follow-up. Therefore, alternatives that are acceptable to all parties need to be designed.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. Syed Asim Ali Sabzwari, Environmental Expert Asian Development Bank, Mr. Amir Goraya, Assistant Resident Representative UNDP Pakistan; Dr. Zaeem Bin Babar, Associate Professor NUST, also highlighted their initiatives in combatting plastic pollution. Dr. Moin ud Din from Serena Hotels informed that Serena Hotel remains committed to its environmental stewardship and will continue to innovate and improve its sustainability efforts. By integrating sustainable practices, reducing plastic waste, and supporting conservation initiatives, Serena Hotel is dedicated to making a positive difference in the world and setting an example for the hospitality industry.Mr. Cheema, while delivering the vote of thanks mentioned that globally IUCN is addressing the triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change and making a difference through science, policy, and projects which provide holistic solutions and resources to restore and revitalise our planet and our ocean.On the sidelines, a photo exhibition titled After Us The Deluge - the work of renowned Dutch photographer Kadir van Lohuizen was organized with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands. The exhibition showed the impact on communities of rising sea levels caused by global warming.The event was attended by the members of the diplomatic corps who explained the issues pertaining to plastic pollution and its solutions.

For more information, please contact:Hammad SaeedManager Communications and Knowledge ManagementIUCN Pakistan, Islamabad Country OfficeCell. +92 307 7773801E-mail: [email protected]

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