Message of the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change for the Clean up the World Campaign 2019 |16 September 2019

Minister Coasgrow

Concerted efforts needed to combat plastic pollution

“Governments, local communities, private sector as well as non-governmental organisations, each and every one of us need to play our part to combat the increasing threats we face from plastic pollution.”

This comes in a message from the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Wallace Cosgrow, to mark this year’s Clean Up the World campaign.  

The full text of Minister Cosgrow’s message reads:

“Once again, Seychelles joins the global Clean up the World Campaign. This year, we will join the rest of the world to address the global issue of plastic pollution through the theme ‘Yes we can beat plastic pollution’. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest global environmental challenges of our time. From statistics we know that if the trend continues as is and significant global actions are not taken, there will be more plastics than fish in our oceans by the year 2050, our food sources will continue to face contamination, our drinking water supply compromised due to poor hygiene affecting the earth’s population’s health and well-being.

“Plastics are clogging our waterways, polluting our oceans, washing up on our beaches and suffocating our marine life. This is a global problem which requires global solutions and commitments but the actions have to be local. Governments, local communities, private sector as well as non-governmental organisations, each and every one of us need to play our part to combat the increasing threats we face from plastic pollution.

“Seychelles remains committed towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which offers a framework and a universal call for action to protect the planet among other objectives. Plastic pollution although not mentioned in the SDGs, relates directly or indirectly to more than half of the SGDs hence the increasing global awareness and action to eliminate the threats of plastic pollution to the planet.

“Locally we are taking a number of measures to tackle plastic pollution and the associated threats. We have enacted laws, relooked at our policies and strategies, increased sensitisation and awareness as well as engaged the community based and non-governmental organisations to join in the fight. However, as we have recently seen from the Aldabra and outer islands clean-up initiatives, as a small island state we remain vulnerable to irresponsible actions well beyond our shores. This is why we are taking the fight internationally and raising our concerns at international fora. We are part of a number of global initiatives discussing and deciding on actions. Despite our size we are well respected and regarded as a champion.

“Today I would like to recognise and appreciate the efforts of everyone who remains committed to beating plastic pollution and call upon each and every Seychellois to play our part and help keep our beautiful country clean. I am reaffirming the government’s commitment to combatting this ever increasing environmental concern. We cannot do it alone. Every individual effort can make a difference. Together we can make a difference.”