Experts warn that a plastic pandemic may prolong Pakistan’s climate battle.
As Pakistan strives to tackle climate change; the impending shadow of the plastic pandemic appears as a significant hurdle.
From polluted waterways to weakened ecosystems, plastic waste threatens to extend the nation’s fight against environmental difficulties.
The climate and health experts have cautioned to address this important issue on urgent basis to defend Pakistan’s sustainability efforts.
“Despite strides in environmental policy and activism, the pervasive presence of plastic pollution threatens to prolong the nation’s fight against climate instability.
From congested rivers to degraded ecosystems, the adverse effects of plastic throw a shadow over Pakistan’s sustainability objectives, highlighting the importance of collective action” warned a renowned environmentalist Dr Ejaz Ahmed, a former Director at WWF-Pakistan.
Dr. Ejaz Ahmed also emphasized the potential of recycling activities and scientific developments in transforming plastic trash into a viable resource for the country’s benefits.
From co-processing fuel in cement manufacturing to construction materials, novel solutions offer to alleviate the plastic issue while cutting carbon emissions, he said.
Highlighting the deleterious consequences of plastic in everyday human life and health, Dr. Ejaz stated the repercussions of plastic pervasiveness are many, from threatening marine life to blocking drainage systems and health concerns.
Despite persistent efforts to raise awareness and implement restrictions; the insidious spread of plastic persists, penetrating daily life from household goods to food packaging, he lamented.
Plastic pollution, pervasive and subtle, is wreaking havoc and from manufacturing to disposal, its adverse impacts ripple across ecosystems, offering a serious challenge to Pakistan’s sustainability efforts, he expresssed dismay.
In Pakistan, where the danger of climate change looms large, the campaign against plastic pollution has taken paramount importance.
With over 300 million tons of plastic churned out globally each year, and a startling half of it consisting single-use plastics, the urgency to halt this flow has never been more vital.
While countries like Bangladesh, France, and Rwanda have taken dramatic steps to prevent plastic growth, Pakistan is at a vital juncture, contending with the greatest percentage of mismanaged plastic in South Asia.
The issuance of a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) banning plastic bags in key cities including Islamabad, Lahore, and Hunza marks a significant leap, albeit amidst a dearth of comprehensive policy frameworks at the federal and provincial levels.
Shafee Muhammad Marwat, a Director at the Capital’s civic organization, that occasionally undertakes campaigns against pollution, underlined the hazards of plastic, stressing its harm to both human and aquatic life, as well as its destructive impacts on infrastructure.
Despite prior efforts to discourage its use through campaigns and fines, the insidious growth of plastic remains, penetrating daily life from household goods to food packaging, he bemoaned.
Plastic pollution, pervasive and subtle, is wreaking havoc and from manufacturing to disposal, its adverse impacts ripple across ecosystems, offering a serious challenge to Pakistan’s sustainability efforts, he expresssed dismay.
In Pakistan, where the danger of climate change looms large, the campaign against plastic pollution has taken paramount importance.
With over 300 million tons of plastic churned out globally each year, and a startling half of it consisting single-use plastics, the urgency to halt this flow has never been more vital.
While countries like Bangladesh, France, and Rwanda have taken dramatic steps to prevent plastic growth, Pakistan is at a vital juncture, contending with the greatest percentage of mismanaged plastic in South Asia.
The issuance of a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) banning plastic bags in key cities including Islamabad, Lahore, and Hunza marks a significant leap, albeit amidst a dearth of comprehensive policy frameworks at the federal and provincial levels.
Shafee Muhammad Marwat, a Director at the Capital’s civic organization, that occasionally undertakes campaigns against pollution, underlined the hazards of plastic, stressing its harm to both human and aquatic life, as well as its destructive impacts on infrastructure.
Despite prior efforts to discourage its use through campaigns and fines, plastic remains omnipresent, even being used for food and waste disposal, he said.
Climate and Health experts reiterated united fears on the catastrophic health repercussions of plastic expansion, highlighting the emergence of respiratory diseases, malignancies, and dermatological ailments as harbingers of an approaching calamity.
Endorsing Marwat and DR Ejaz’s worries, Dr. Shazia Aslam, a well-known Lahore-based dermatologist , underlines the health risks posed by plastic, including the release of hazardous compounds when heated, leading to respiratory ailments and malignancies.
Highlighting the detrimental consequences of plastic on human health, Dr. Shazia Aslam underscores the urgent need to switch to biodegradable alternatives.
As Pakistan navigates the dangerous waters of climate change, the war against plastic waste emerges as a defining frontier in its drive for environmental sustainability.