India, being the hosting country for this World Environment Day in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on 5th June, turned out be a big success. The surmounting problem of plastic pollution was the theme set for the big day and it created the much-needed buzz among masses with #BeatPlasticPollution trending worldwide. The day came to an end but India made sure that the buzz will never die.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed that India is preparing to join the ‘Clean Seas Campaign’. The campaign was started in February 2017 by UNEP to end plastic in the seas. The aim of the campaign is to increase global awareness of the need to reduce marine litter.
“Plastic is already having a deadly impact on our marine ecosystem. Scientists and fishermen alike have pointed to signs of trouble. These include declining fish catches, warming ocean temperatures, and vanishing habitats,” PM Modi said.
“Plastic pollution is now entering our food chain. In fact, micro-plastics have now even entered basic food like salt, bottled water and tap water…India is preparing to join the ‘Clean Seas Campaign’ and make its contribution towards saving our oceans,” he added.
The campaign will receive a major push if India joins the initiative because freeing the seas of plastic is no easy dead as 8 million tonnes of plastic is dumped into the sea annually. A collective approach is required to find a solution.
“Oceans are the lifeblood of humanity, but they are being turned into rubbish dumps. We have a collective responsibility to act, and to act now. We need to turn the tide on plastic waste, protect biodiversity and keep the oceans rich and clean. It’s an investment in our own survival,” says Minister for the Environment Karolina Skog.
And that’s not all, there’s another big thing coming. India has also pledged to ban all single-use plastics by 2022! India, with a staggering population of 1.3 billion people, produces 25,000 metric tons of plastic per day. The feat India has chosen will have a lot of challenges with 2022 only 4 years away.
On World Environment Summit hosted by PM Modi in the capital city, Harsh Vardhan, the Indian Environment Minister announced, “On this historic occasion we make a solemn pledge that by 2022 we shall eliminate all single-use plastics from our beautiful country.”
The litter in Indian cities tarnishes the beauty and serenity of country’s beautiful landscapes, monuments and streets. Plastic is ingrained at an extremely deep level in our life. Turn your head around and count the things made of plastic in your vicinity, you’d be surprised by the amount of plastic you’re surrounded with. Abolishing plastic in your life is not just an end, it’s a new beginning towards a sustainable future!
“The choices that we make today will define our collective future,” Mr. Modi said in the summit.
“The choices may not be easy. But through awareness, technology and a genuine global partnership, I am sure we can make the right choices. Let us all join together to beat plastic pollution and make this planet a better place to live.”