Staff Writer
UN Resident and Humanitarian ambassador Mr Edward Kallon has encouraged Zimbabwe to join the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment established by UNEP and Elen MacArthur foundation in 2018.
The Global Commitment brings together over 500 signatories that are determined to start building a circular economy for plastics. It already has countries like Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and Seychelles.
“I can commit that the UN’s family, through our specialized agency UNEP and others like UNDP, can help you with making these commitments,” Mr Kallon said at the World Environment Day.
The Global Commitments asks for commitment to: Eliminate unnecessary plastic products/packaging – this could simply mean eliminating plastic bags sold in retail stores;
Reuse/reduce the need for single-use plastic packaging and or products – this could mean asking restaurants etc to use reusable plastics for takeaways.
Encourage products to have a recyclability label.
Establishing infrastructure and funding mechanisms for collection, sorting and recycling.
Stimulating demand for recycled products by taxing materials that have say less than 30 percent recyclable materials.
Supporting social and behavioural change – including in schools education programmes.
This year’s theme is: “Beating the Plastic Pollution”.
Mr Kallon said he hoped that the youth would turn around the catastrophic consequence of plastic with over 400 million tons of plastic produced worldwide and over 2000 garbage trucks full of plastic dumped into our water bodies.
“We must work as one – governments, companies, consumers, students, young people alike – to break our addiction to plastics, champion zero waste, and build a truly circular economy.
“Let me assure you the United Nations System in Zimbabwe remains committed and understands the urgency of today to adapt and ensure environmental sustainability for current and future generations to thrive and achieve their aspirations. Together we can beat the,” he said.
Mr Kallon said the UN Secretary General has consistently called for the need to build forward better.
“He has called for a green economy not a grey economy. Zimbabwe has great opportunity to leapfrog to a green economy as it undertakes a raft of reforms to turn-around the economy, address the impact of COVID-19 recovery and break the cycle of climate crisis.
“In this regard, Zimbabwe must strengthen policy/legal frameworks in agriculture, land management including sustainable land use planning to include incentives that promote sustainable farming and agro forestry,” he said.
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