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The urgency in the face of plastic pollution in the world and Benin in particular |
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by Desire HOUNGNIGBE | 21-03-2019 07:00
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It is no longer a stranger to anyone the thorny issue of plastic pollution. What one is from any part of the globe, this issue begins to scare seriously. We then understand the United Nations Environment Program (UN Environment) in the choice of the theme of the World Day of Environment 2018, a day that is always celebrated every June 5th of each year. This theme is "Fighting Plastic Pollution." Whether it is on fauna or flora, the effects of plastic weigh heavily. About 13 million tonnes of plastics enter our oceans each year and harm biodiversity (UN Environment, 2018). At this pace and according to some estimates of the World Economic Forum of the Allen McArthur Foundation, there will be more than plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050, and about 99% of seabirds will have ingested duplicates. There is then something to worry about, even in Africa, because a report by the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Germany, estimates that "90% of the plastics polluting the oceans come from ten rivers, two of which in Africa: the Nile and Niger ". Moreover, as we do not yet have reliable and efficient waste collection systems in our countries, plastic is invading all our ecosystems. Plastic waste asphyxiates species at the shoreline, which causes the disappearance of these species and in turn, the destruction of the abundant aquatic biodiversity that we have in Africa. These same wastes, thrown into nature, prevent the permeability of soils to water, with an unequal distribution of water at the level of the physical layers. It leads to the disruption of plant biodiversity. In Benin, what strikes the most, and which touches me mainly, is the high proportion of plastic waste in our streets, on the piles of garbage. Throughout my country, plastic has unfortunately become an element of our environment. It is because of the scale of the problem that Beninese parliamentarians voted a law in November 2017 banning all use of non-biodegradable bags in the Republic of Benin. It is therefore more than ever time to tackle plastic pollution in Benin and to provide unique solutions to preserve our environment from an unprecedented disaster and also preserve the great conservation opportunity we have. |
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8 Comments
Thank you Kushal Naharki, Louis Mentor and Wonhee Mentor for your comments and contributions to my report. My pleasure to read you and learn from your comments.
Posted 30-03-2019 18:02
Hello Desire Houngnigbe
Thank you for addressing the plastic problem. Plastics have become the biggest threat in our world. Plastics are contaminating oceans, streets and even our ecosystem. These days, many governments in the world are enacting laws to regulate plastic bags and now is the perfect timing to tackle this issue. Thank you for sharing this urgent issue! Keep up the good work : )
Wonhee Mentor
Posted 28-03-2019 14:44
Hello Desire Houngnigbe
Thank you for addressing the plastic problem. Plastics have become the biggest threat in our world. Plastics are contaminating oceans, streets and even our ecosystem. These days, many governments in the world are enacting laws to regulate plastic bags and now is the perfect timing to tackle this issue. Thank you for sharing this urgent issue! Keep up the good work : )
Wonhee Mentor
Posted 28-03-2019 14:35
Hi Desire,
Plastic pollution indeed is a very serious issue, and in order to support global initiatives and standard, I witnessed many shops stop using the plastic cups and straws. Plus, thank you for sharing your own personal story. Please keep up the hard work.
Louis Mentor
Posted 27-03-2019 00:37
Hello Desire.
As all of know, plastic pollution has already turned out to be one of the issue of global concern from our land to oceans all getting filled up with the plastic. I have also launched a campaign, waste bin: Keep It In, till We Find The Bin. We must focus on reduce, reuse and recycle to beat the plastic pollution. We must refuse it, if we can't reuse it.
Green Cheers from Nepal :)
Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.
Yours,
Kushal Naharki
Posted 25-03-2019 13:49
Hello Asmita and Rosa. Thank you so much for your contribution to my report.
And Rosa, I like the fact that you suggest some ways we can make a transition from this interdiction to create a clean environment in Benin. I think that is why my proposal work for the ECO GENERATION ambassadorship program is related to plastic bags, especially awareness campaign and clean-up programmes in my community. I do believe in achieving them.
Posted 25-03-2019 10:01
Hello desire
Awareness and 4Rs rule must be followed to control plastic pollution.
Thank you so much for this wonderful report.
Green cheers from Nepal...
Posted 24-03-2019 00:52
Hey Desire,
I trust you are well this morning, the #BeatPlasticPollution was such a well known and covered campaign that I do hope this year's initiative will highlight the importance of reducing plastic pollution to zero to an even greater scale.
I would assume that that after the ban of non-degradable plastic, that the government would then initiate clean-up programmes to clean up the plastics that have made the streets in Benin their home and moreover, secure enough bins in and round the cities to ensure that people have litter bin to dispose of any litter.
I do think the government should consider to establish an awareness programme to educate the many about the importance of beating plastic pollution, this will work well with this year's campaign come June.
Thank you for reporting Desire!
sincerely,
Rosa
Posted 22-03-2019 17:34