Andy Esiet, Calabar
Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) has called on all concerns to be involved in eliminating plastic pollution in Nigeria and the world at large.
In this regards, the foundation charged both civil society actors around the globe and relevant government institutions “to urgently come together to take decisive actions towards reversing the trend of plastic pollution and other environmental degradation”.
In a press statement yesterday to celebrate the 2023 World Environment Day, the Coordinator PPDF, Mr. Umo Isuaikoh said such decisive action was imminent if the world was ready to avert the calamity that could meet humanity when the environment fights back.
He said that several researches have shown that plastic can take between 20 to 500 years to decompose, depending on the material structure and environmental factors including sunlight exposure.
Hence, “it is obvious that plastic pollution is a threat to our environment. We see it litter our landscape and water bodies causing serious harm to our marine life and other wildlife.
“Sadly, plastic bags block drainage systems leading to flooding and as it releases toxins when burned”, he said.
He stated that, “environment is our surroundings, consisting of all living and non – living elements that interact with us each passing day. When the organisms and biomass are in a proper proportion at different tropics levels, the environment is said to be balanced”.
However, Isuaikoh pointed out that human negative activities and natural hazards are factors that aid in disturbing the environmental balance and the World Environment Day is observed yearly on June 5th around the globe to raise awareness on the urgent need to protect our environment at all costs.
“It is an annual call for action by both non-governmental organisations among other authorities” , he added.
The theme for this year’s World Environment Day “Beat Plastic Pollution,” stems from unquestionable fact that plastic pollution alters habitats and natural processes within the ecosystem and also reduces the ecosystem’s ability to adapt to climate change with negative impacts on community livelihoods, food production capacities and social well – being.
