Namibia has taken commendable steps towards curbing plastic pollution, starting with the prohibition of plastic bags in protected areas and national parks.
The environment ministry is now engaged in extensive consultations with various stakeholders on the possibility of expanding the ban of other problematic single-use plastic products such as straws, cutlery and non-recyclable packaging.
This is part of the long-term vision to transition towards more environmentally friendly and degradable alternatives to plastic and ensure that Namibia transforms together with the global community in fighting plastic pollution.
Deputy Environmental Commissioner Dr Caroline Gaorus-Oas said this at the commemoration of World Environment Day in Swakopmund under the theme “End Plastic Pollution”, while delivering the ministerial statement.
World Environment Day is commemorated annually on 5 June each year with the main objective of encouraging actions for the protection of the environment.
Gaorus-Oas said that more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, half of which is designed to be used only once.
Of that, less than 10% is recycled, said Gaorus-Oas.
She said that an estimated 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic are transported by wind and water to the lakes, rivers, and seas.
“Today, plastic clogs our landfills, sewage drainages in towns, leaches into the ocean, and is combusted into toxic smoke, making it one of the gravest threats to our planet.”
According to Gaorus-Oas, plastic pollution and its detrimental impacts on human health, and the environment cannot be ignored.
She said that plastic pollution creates a negative image for the country, especially those scattered along the national road networks and in the surroundings of households, towns,
settlements and villages across the country.
“Therefore, urgent action is required to address plastic pollution in Namibia. At the same time, we need true, effective, and robust solutions to reduce the production and use
of single-use plastic, which can and must be replaced with durable and sustainable alternatives.”
Gaorus-Oas said that they need to explore all options, including goals for new raw polymers brought into the economy.
“We need to explore monitoring and reporting mechanisms to support national actions. We need to set in place financing mechanisms and means of implementation to contain environmental pollution. We need to provide incentives for all stakeholders and engage with businesses.”
The environment ministry is now engaged in extensive consultations with various stakeholders on the possibility of expanding the ban of other problematic single-use plastic products such as straws, cutlery and non-recyclable packaging.
This is part of the long-term vision to transition towards more environmentally friendly and degradable alternatives to plastic and ensure that Namibia transforms together with the global community in fighting plastic pollution.
Deputy Environmental Commissioner Dr Caroline Gaorus-Oas said this at the commemoration of World Environment Day in Swakopmund under the theme “End Plastic Pollution”, while delivering the ministerial statement.
World Environment Day is commemorated annually on 5 June each year with the main objective of encouraging actions for the protection of the environment.
Gaorus-Oas said that more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, half of which is designed to be used only once.
Of that, less than 10% is recycled, said Gaorus-Oas.
She said that an estimated 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic are transported by wind and water to the lakes, rivers, and seas.
“Today, plastic clogs our landfills, sewage drainages in towns, leaches into the ocean, and is combusted into toxic smoke, making it one of the gravest threats to our planet.”
According to Gaorus-Oas, plastic pollution and its detrimental impacts on human health, and the environment cannot be ignored.
She said that plastic pollution creates a negative image for the country, especially those scattered along the national road networks and in the surroundings of households, towns,
settlements and villages across the country.
“Therefore, urgent action is required to address plastic pollution in Namibia. At the same time, we need true, effective, and robust solutions to reduce the production and use
of single-use plastic, which can and must be replaced with durable and sustainable alternatives.”
Gaorus-Oas said that they need to explore all options, including goals for new raw polymers brought into the economy.
“We need to explore monitoring and reporting mechanisms to support national actions. We need to set in place financing mechanisms and means of implementation to contain environmental pollution. We need to provide incentives for all stakeholders and engage with businesses.”
