WWF Calls for Government Legislation on a Total Ban on Single Use Plastics

WWF Calls for Government Legislation on a Total Ban on Single Use Plastics
By Mariam namakula
Research done by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, showed that 90% of bottled water had micro plastics in it, breaking down into micro plastic entering our food chain the average person may be egesting as many as 2000 micro plastic particles every week.
Although the effect of micro plastics on human health is not known, scientists agree that if micro plastics are a danger to other species’ health then they can be a danger to human health as well.
Under the theme “Keep It Green,” World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) together with the government have launched the 2021 Earth Hour Campaign intended to mobilize all Ugandans to address among others the adaptation of the use of renewable energy technologies and take a firm stand on plastic pollution in the country.
Addressing journalists at the Media Centre, Mr. David Duri the Country Director for WWF noted that the 2021 Earth Hour Campaign was delivering a message of raising awareness of the nature loss crisis, climate change and addressing how everyone needed to play their part if they were to protect our shared home.
“We need urgent actions by all Ugandans to address this, all Ugandans need to keep the environment clean, and we also rally the government to come up with a clear policy stand to ban single use plastic,” said David
Mr. David added that businesses in plastic industry should also invest in production of reusable plastic bags and bottles, join the campaign against plastic pollution through investing in recycling and that government issue a directive to all plastic manufacturers to be part of addressing plastic pollution by investing in recycling of their plastic produce.
According to the country director, this year the WWF wants to thrive and protect nature or reestablish a natural world to stabilize the climate through shining a light on the deep connection between climate change and nature loss.
Mr. David said that, nature underpins the health, wellbeing and prosperity of every one on earth, however the ever-deepening crisis of nature and biodiversity loss must be put to spotlight if the world was to end the ongoing catastrophic climate crisis.
Plastic pollution particularly in Uganda had become one of the most alarming environment issues as the country had been over burdened with the rapid increase in production of disposable plastic products, Mr. David noted.
He said, while the life of many plastic products such as polythene bags and some bottles in the hands of their user lay in a mere minute to hours, plastic persists the environment for hundred years.
Mr. David added that though the use of plastic is seen as convenient by the users due to its low-cost and long lasting nature, plastic has continued to disclose its dark side due to throw – away culture by humans.
“The chemical structure of plastics makes them resistant to many natural processes of degradation as a result they are not easily degraded,” said Duri.
In addition plastic was chocking the country, polluting the air, water and soil that both wild life and people needed to survive.
Mr. David said, Water bodies world over contain 300 million tons of plastic and we add another 8million every year .Plastic doesn’t belong to nature, and if we do nothing by 2050 other may be more plastic in water bodies than fish.
He therefore called for collective action to follow in the next 25 days to ensure the proper disposal of plastic and at least planting of a tree.
The WWF Earth Hour was launched in 2007, to help inspire conversation around the potential threat opposed to climate change and help establish a movement that has led to positive action at local, regional and global levels through raising awareness
Government through the Minister of water and environment Hon Sam Cheptoris, also pledged their support noting that the reserving of the loss of nature played a key role in the country’s prosperity and that it is the only way to secure livelihoods and the vast majority of the economic activities that are defendant on the natural world.
“As we gear up for the next five years, were going to priotise the environment and the sustainable development agenda at the fore front of all government programs.”
Minister added that the success of programs will be reflected in clear and strong decisions by the government and key players from the business, civil society, and indigenous groups around the three main dimensions,
Programs among others included Setting up of a strong commitment around clear, communicable, measurable, and science based national targets, a clear implementation of mechanism similar to the national determined contributions the Paris Treaty through a common but differentiated approach all aimed at restoring nature by 2030.
“The plan we urgently need is clear, it is going to be our nature recovery plan to navigate the challenges of our age, an era where our civilization is facing the increasingly unsustainable use of planet natural resources,” said Cheptoris.
Minister added that the loss of biodiversity is not only an environmental issue but also a developmental, economic, security, social and moral issue and therefore affects everyone and all aspects of life.
“The immense benefits to humanity are estimated to be worth around us$123 trillion annually and these are only possible if we maintain a diversity of ecosystems and species and have enough spaces in a natural state,” he said.
Cheptoris therefore noted that government was grateful to the WWF, The Scouts Movement through its patron Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, officials from the Church Of Uganda, Buganda Kingdom and all other players who have joined the government in checking out plastic pollution by adopting the habit of reusing all plastics as opposed to single use plastic which end up polluting the environment, water bodies and drainage channels.
The campaign comes at a time when Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) had just entered a formal partnership with the private sector particularly the Stanbic Bank, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa and Nice House of Plastics to promote responsible use and recycling of plastic wastes and sustainable development last month.