World Environment Day aims to inspire and encourage worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Protecting our environment is the foundation of sustaining our planet, community, and economy. Held annually since 1974, World Environment Day has become a vital platform for promoting progress on the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals. It has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and celebrated by millions of people across the world over the years.

The year 2022 marks 50 years since the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment – the 1972 Stockholm Conference that led to the creation of UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and designating 5 June every year as World Environment Day.

World Environment Day 2022 will be held under the theme “Only One Earth“, highlighting the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature by bringing transformative changes—through policies and choices—toward cleaner, greener lifestyles.

Choking on Plastic

Globally, plastic pollution has reached alarming levels, causing serious consequences to marine life and the wellbeing of societies along coastlines. About 300 million tons of plastic waste are produce every year, which equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. According to UNEP, the global production of primary plastic is forecasted to reach 34 billion tons by 2050.

Based on a 2019 study by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Malaysia has the highest annual per capita plastic use, at 16.78 kg per person compared to China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. In terms of plastic waste, Malaysia ranks the second highest in overall generated waste.

Millions of tons of plastic waste are lost to the environment. Cigarette butts — whose filters contain tiny plastic fibers — are the most common type of plastic waste found in the environment. Food wrappers, plastic bottles, plastic bottle caps, plastic grocery bags, plastic straws, and stirrers are the next most common items.

Here are the impacts of plastic productions and pollutions to the environment:

  • Impossible to break down – its durability and resistance to degradation resulting only breaking down into smaller places; it never can fully disappear. 
  • Increase transmission of vector-borne diseases such as malaria – countries with poor solid waste management systems especially plastic waste can clog sewers, provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes and pests, resulting such diseases.
  • Harm to wildlife – more than 800 marine and coastal species are affected through ingestion, entanglement, and other dangers. Many marine wildlife mistaken plastic waste as prey or source of foods, resulting in starvation, lacerations, infections and internal injuries.
  • Increase climate change – if plastic waste is incinerated, it releases carbon dioxide and methane (from landfills) into the atmosphere, thereby increasing emissions. By 2050 greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic production, use and disposal would account for 15 per cent of allowed emissions, under the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C (34.7°F).
  • Impact the tourism – plastic waste damages the aesthetic value of tourist destinations, leading to economy downturn in country’s tourism industry.

Making Changes on Plastic

During the recent UNEP@50, the ministers of environment and other representatives from 175 nations endorsed a historic resolution to end plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024. Malaysia has also taken a steadfast action with the adoption of two policies to address plastic pollution through a life cycle approach and circular economy model called the Malaysia Plastic Sustainability Roadmap and the Marine Litter Policy and Action Plan, 2021-2030.

However, the fight against plastic waste is not solely on the government, yet each Malaysians are responsible to ensure the sustainable development goals deliver results for every child – now and for generations to come.

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