SWAKOPMUND – Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Indileni Daniel has called for an urgent and collective action to end plastic pollution. 

She said it poses one of the greatest threats to sustainable development, biodiversity and human health. She made these remarks in a speech delivered on her behalf at the national commemoration of World Environment Day at Swakopmund on Thursday. 

Daniel stated that plastic pollution continues to taint Namibia’s natural beauty, with discarded waste increasingly seen along national roads, townships and villages. 

“Plastic pol lution is everywhere – from the deepest ocean trench to the highest mountain peak. We see this pollution. We feel its climate impacts,” the minister said. 

She urged Namibians to take responsibility and adopt sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. 

Reports indicate that more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually. Less than 10% is recycled. 

“This scourge is not only harming marine life and ecosystems, but it is damaging the country’s image and undermining public health,” she stressed. 

Daniel noted that Namibia has taken steps to combat the crisis. 

This includes banning plastic bags in protected areas and supporting annual national clean-up campaigns since 2018. 

A comprehensive circular economy approach under the upcoming National Development Plan will further help reduce virgin plastic production by 55% by 2040, cut emissions, and potentially create 700 000 jobs in the global south. 

“We need to provide incentives for all stakeholders, engage business, set up financing mechanisms and implement strong monitoring systems,” Daniel said. 

Also speaking at the event was chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council Management Committee Florian Donatus, who highlighted the devastating impact of plastic waste along the Namibian coastline. 

“We live along a delicate and vital coastline, a lifeline that sustains our communities, economies and ecosystems. Yet, we’re polluting it with careless habits. 

Let us not wait for calendar events or clean-up campaigns. The time to act is now,” he stated. This year’s event is being commemorated under the theme ‘End Plastic Pollution’. 

– Nampa