Philippine Green Groups Call for Plastics Ban

Source: http://english.ohmynews.com/
By: Krzl Nunes
©2009 OhmyNews

A waste and pollution watchdog called upon the government to ban the use of plastic bags in the country.

On Monday, the EcoWaste Coalition proposed to the National Solid Waste Management commission to phase out single-use plastic products and other packaging materials, such as disposable plastic bags, that have low recycling levels.

According to EcoWaste Coalition coordinator Rei Panaligan, they will also mobilize concerned groups and individuals to urge the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to act on United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) appeal to ban the said plastic products "rapidly" everywhere.

“We will launch a signature drive that will petition the government to unilaterally ban plastic bags, promote ecological substitutes and practices, and incorporate marine litter prevention and reduction in the national solid waste management strategy,” Panaligan added.

In a report released by UNEP and the Ocean Conservatory on June 8, It was found that plastic is the "number one marine litter" that poses hazards because "it persists so long, degrading into tinier and tinier bits that can be consumed by the smallest marine life at the base of the food web."

The report, entitled “Marine Litter: A Global Challenge” defined marine litter as any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment.

Among the land-based sources where marine litter is obtained are wastes from dump sites located on the coast or banks of rivers, industrial outfalls, discharge from water drains, untreated municipal sewerage, and litters in beaches and recreation areas in coastal areas.

The report added that marine litter could also come from shipping and fishing vessels and activities, offshore mining and extraction, and dumping activities at sea.

Despite several international, regional and national efforts to reverse marine pollution, alarming quantities of rubbish thrown out to sea continue to endanger people's safety and health, entrap wildlife, damage nautical equipment and ruin coastal areas around the world, the report indicated.

The government's call to push for bolder and significant cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by developed countries was meanwhile lauded by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Wednesday.

Philippine chief negotiator and former environment secretary Heherson Alvarez discussed the developments of the climate change negotiation with Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer, who commended the Philippine Delegation for playing an active role in the process of coming up with an agreement that will manage the impact of climate change.

However, de Boer said that the on-going talks on promised global cuts are “on average and not deep enough.”

According to de Boer, the climate change negotiation could be hastened by focusing on fundamental issues such as reaching ambitious targets of carbon dioxide reduction of industrialized countries, urging China and India to limit growth of their carbon dioxide emissions, and clarifying financing needs for both mitigation and adaptation for developing countries.