Kuwait joins global effort to ‘beat plastic pollution' on World Environment Day
KUWAIT CITY, June 5: As the world observes World Environment Day today, the focus has sharply turned to plastic pollution—a growing environmental crisis demanding urgent global action. Celebrated annually on June 5 for over five decades, World Environment Day serves as the largest international platform for environmental awareness, mobilizing millions worldwide through events and initiatives aimed at conservation and sustainable development.
This year's theme, 'Beat Plastic Pollution,' calls on governments, organizations, and individuals to implement systemic changes that reduce plastic waste and encourage environmentally friendly practices. The movement, spearheaded by the United Nations Environment Programme, emphasizes the need for a global shift in how societies produce, use, and dispose of plastic.
Kuwait's Environment Public Authority (EPA) is actively participating in the global initiative with a nationwide media campaign in partnership with state institutions and international organizations. Acting Director General Nouf Behbehani told KUNA that the campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution while encouraging sustainable habits like recycling and the reduction of single-use plastics.
'Environmental conservation is central to Kuwait's sustainable development goals,' Behbehani stated. 'The EPA is focused on promoting positive behaviors among both individuals and institutions.'
She urged the public to engage with the campaign, which emphasizes practical lifestyle changes such as using reusable materials and reducing plastic consumption to minimize environmental harm.
The Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS) is also playing a key role in these efforts. Its Chairperson, Dr. Wejdan Al-Oqab, highlighted the society's advocacy for reducing plastic production and increasing recycling. She noted that KEPS engages in various national and international activities that address plastic waste, which poses serious risks to both ecosystems and human health.
Al-Oqab warned of the long-term dangers of plastic pollution, including its infiltration into the food chain and its toxic effects on marine life. 'The urgency to act is real,' she stressed, adding that KEPS's "Green Schools" initiative educates young students about these dangers through lectures and workshops.
The initiative underscores the importance of daily individual choices, such as using cloth or recycled bags instead of plastic, and sorting household waste to reduce landfill pressure. Al-Oqab also pointed out that Kuwait's environmental laws penalize environmentally harmful actions, but behavioral change among the public remains critical.
Adding to the discussion, Dr. Mubarak Al-Hajeri, Chairman of the Kuwait Society for Earth Sciences, expressed hope that this year's observance would catalyze a transformation in environmental thinking. He emphasized that World Environment Day should be a springboard for serious, sustained efforts to promote environmental sustainability at both local and global levels.
Al-Hajeri raised concerns about the growing amount of plastic waste polluting oceans and threatening marine life through ingestion and chemical contamination. He called for innovation in eco-friendly technologies and collective responsibility to mitigate the impact of plastic on climate and public health.
As nations unite under the banner of World Environment Day 2025, Kuwait's commitment to tackling plastic pollution stands as part of a larger global mission to safeguard the planet's future.
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