Webinar ID: 821 0237 9288
Passcode: 209025
To join the webinar: CLICK HERE
Introduction
On 22nd April every year, the World celebrates International Mother Earth Day. This year, the theme of the Day is “Planet VS Plastics” – a call for action for the world to work together to address one of the great environmental challenges of our time and raise global awareness on the need to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on people’s health and the threat it poses to the planet and living beings. Humanity produces more than 430 million tonnes of plastic annually, two-thirds of which are short-lived products that soon become waste, filling the ocean and, often, working their way into the human food chain. While the world has derived great benefit from the use of plastics, which have transformed people’s everyday lives, the negative ecological effects and adverse impact on health from their misuse and overuse cannot be overlooked. Many people aren’t aware that a material that is embedded in our daily life can have significant impacts not just on wildlife, but on the climate and on human health. Plastic remains in the environment for a long time, it cannot biodegrade, only break down into smaller and smaller pieces. The economic damage caused by plastic waste is vast. Plastic litter in the Asia-Pacific region alone costs its tourism, fishing and shipping industries $1.3 billion per year. In Europe, cleaning plastic waste from coasts and beaches costs about €630 million per year. Studies suggest that the total economic damage to the world’s marine ecosystem caused by plastic amounts to at least $13 billion every year. The economic, health and environmental reasons to act are clear.
Objective:
In 2022, UN Member States agreed on a resolution to end plastic pollution. An Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee developed a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, with the aim of having it finalized by the end of 2024. While this progress is good news, current commitments by governments and industry are not enough Countries need to encourage innovation and provide incentives to businesses that do away with unnecessary plastics. Taxes are needed to deter the production or use of single-use plastic products, while tax breaks, subsidies and other fiscal incentives need to be introduced to encourage alternatives, such as reusable products. Waste management infrastructure must also be improved. Multi- stakeholder and inter-sectoral partnerships should be promoted to address this grave issue. This event will provide a platform to share analysis and experiences with the aim of developing guidance to enhance co-operation, partnerships, policy coherence and sustainable financing solutions to address and prevent plastics pollution.
For more information please contact:
Ms. Shweta Tyagi
Chief Functionary
India Water Foundation
Email: shweta.tyagi@indiawaterfoundation.org
Mobile No: +91-9899819074