Herrtta-Maria Amutenja
President Hage Geingob has urged Namibians to make changes to their lives and reduce the heavy burden of plastics on the natural and human environment because of the threat it poses.
Geingob made these remarks on the occasion of World Environment Day which was commemorated around the globe yesterday.
“Plastics contain hazardous additives, which pose a threat to our ecosystem, biodiversity, economy and health. As we commemorate World Environment Day under the theme, ‘Beat Plastic Pollution ‘, we should take action to promote a circular economy for the future of our planet,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) which also commemorated the day urged the nation to collectively scale up efforts and partnerships to put an end to plastic pollution as its detrimental impacts on health, the economy and the environment cannot be ignored.
“Plastic is a cause of climate change. Plastic is predominantly produced from oil and gas, both of which are fossil fuels. The more plastic we make, the more fossil fuel is required, and the more we intensify the climate crisis. Also, plastic products create greenhouse gas emissions across their whole lifecycle. If no action is taken, greenhouse gas emissions caused by plastic could account for 19 percent of the Paris Agreement’s total allowable emissions in 2040 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Read more about climate change,” said the funds Corporate Communications Manager Lot Ndamanomhata.
In addition, he said the fund retaliating its commitment to ending plastic pollution and is proud to be a champion for diverse treatments for the plastic pandemic.
“Namibia must therefore take ambitious action along the plastic lifecycle. The scourge of plastic pollution is a visible threat that impacts every community. Let’s reduce the production and consumption of single-use plastic, which can and must be replaced with durable and sustainable alternatives,” he said
