PR No. 262 ENGAGING YOUTH VITAL TO TACKLE PLASTIC POLLUTION, SAYS PM’S AID ON CLIM

Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam said that tackling plastic pollution is a daunting challenge in the country because of its rampant use, which is a major cause of environmental degradation. But, "the present government is committed to overcome the challenge of growing plastic pollution and all the stakeholders concerned are being approached and taken on board to make our country plastic-free for this," the she told the concluding ceremony of the Margalla Hills Half-Marathon held here on Sunday. The 21-km long marathon was organized by jointly the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and various civil society organisations. The event started from the Trail-5 and was attended by more or less 200 marathoners. Women and children also participated in the marathon. The PM's Coordinator Romina Khurshid Alam also highlighted the unprecedented importance of the role of the young people in weeding out the plastic pollution from our society and supporting the government's efforts in this regard. She said that "Our youth, who are frontline contingent force, can play a pivotal role in ensuring a plastic-free environment by advocating for sustainable policies, developing skills in green industries, starting or joining green businesses, and actively participating in the implementation of strategies to combat plastic pollution, which is major source of environmental degradation in our country." Romina Khurshid Alam urged the youth to take the lead and responsibility to overcome plastic pollution in the country, which has adversely contaminated our soils, water bodies, oceans, natural ecosystems and affected human and wildlife health. The PM's coordinator emphasized that the key challenge was the educating and sensitizing young people about adverse impacts of plastic pollution not only on our environment but also our lives. The PM's Coordinator said that educating young people about single-use plastics, encouraging them to alter their attitude towards plastic consumption and spark behavioural change in their communities was key step towards making our society plastic-free. This could be achieved through creating awareness through invoking self-reflection, initiating dialogues with authorities at schools and businesses to encourage them to reduce their consumption of single-use plastic products from the grassroots level, she highlighted. Addressing the participants of the ceremony, she said further that the marathon, which was participated by people including children and women from all walks of the life, was a reminder that it didn't matter how old you are, where you're from, or what your occupation is, we all have a challenging role to play in shaping the world we want to live in and leave behind for our coming generations. Romina Khurshid Alam said that this this marathon event was basically a part of the awareness regarding the adverse impacts of climate change, environmental degradation due to plastic pollution and advocacy initiative for drawing public support for the present government's green initiatives including Green Pakistan Programme. The PM's Coordinator "However, I hope today's marathon event would prove as the key steps into environmental leadership and lead to an impact in changing the plastic habits of our people on companies and schools to act on pollution." She said that today world was facing a plastic pollution crisis at a scale never seen before, yet the impacts of this crisis were not felt equally. From the production to the disposal of plastics, the most vulnerable communities often experience the worst effects of pollution in different forms and manifestation, the PM's coordinator added. "Plastic pollution is a crisis of our own making. But, the good news is that we can control it when we all join hands," Romina Khurshid Alam told the participants, adding tha the UN Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution provides an important framework for ensuring that plastics never end up as trash. "It is heartening to note that there is a strong support for the treaty by governments and businesses, buoyed by overwhelming support among global consumers to cope with plastic pollution," she emphasized.
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