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Times of Oman
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Oman participates in UNOC3 in France
Nice: At the behest of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Dr. Abdullah bin Ali Al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority, is taking part in the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) held in Nice, France. In Oman's speech, Dr. Al Amri highlighted the Sultanate of Oman's pioneering efforts in preserving marine environments, protecting oceans, and safeguarding marine biodiversity in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He noted that Oman was among the first countries to prioritise environmental protection, having issued 'the first legislation to protect marine environments from pollution" 53 years ago. The country has also established 'marine protected areas"* spanning over 90,000 square kilometers to protect endangered species such as humpback whales, sea turtles, and coral reefs. Additionally, Oman has banned all types of plastic shopping bags and set 2050 as its target year for achieving net-zero emissions. He pointed out that Oman launched the 'Oman Blue Carbon Project" to plant 100 million mangrove trees, aimed at carbon sequestration and protecting coastal ecosystems. These efforts have earned Oman high rankings in global environmental assessments, particularly in marine protection rigor and marine biodiversity habitats. Furthermore, Oman was elected President of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) for its seventh session. He reaffirmed Oman's commitment to supporting "SDG 14", which focuses on conserving oceans and marine resources, including backing the 'Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement." Dr. Al Amri also emphasized the need to remind the international community of the oceans' critical role as 'a major carbon sink," stressing Oman's dedication to supporting global efforts to maintain ocean health and sustain marine biodiversity. The conference's agenda included an opening session where Oman presented its national statement, outlining its stance on global marine issues while reaffirming support for SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and the Nice Action Plan. The five-day conference features 10 parallel high-level sessions (Ocean Action Panels) addressing various topics, including marine and coastal ecosystems, marine science and capacity-building, ocean financing, and climate action. The event also includes exhibitions, side events, and cultural, educational, economic, and scientific activities. The third UN Ocean Conference, running until 13 June, aims to accelerate global action to protect oceans and achieve SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
Daily Maverick
05-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Ending plastic pollution is a human and planetary health imperative
An estimated 11 million tonnes of plastics leak into aquatic ecosystems each year, while around 13 million tonnes of plastics accumulate in the soil annually. When you woke up this morning, you did not breakfast on a plate of plastics, and rightly so. Your body is likely to have plastic in it anyway – microplastics, which have been found in the arteries, lungs, brains, placenta and breast milk of people across the world. We still do not know exactly what these microplastics do to our bodies, although new research is emerging all the time. We do know that we did not choose to ingest them. We do know that they do not belong there. And we do know that only ending plastic pollution will stop such plastics from accumulating inside of us. Plastics bring many benefits to humanity – in healthcare, in clean energy technology and much more. Plastic is a useful, durable material that has a role to play in societies and economies, including as we transition to a greener, safer world. The problem is that the way we produce, use and discard many plastics – particularly single-use and short-lived products used for convenience, not necessity – has swamped the world in pollution. An estimated 11 million tonnes of plastics leak into aquatic ecosystems each year, while around 13 million tonnes of plastics accumulate in the soil annually. This pollution gets everywhere – from the Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean point, to Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak – and breaks down into ever smaller particles, which sneak into our bodies through food, water and even air. The harm caused by plastic pollution on species, ecosystems and economies is well documented. The costs of plastic pollution could rise as high as a cumulative $281-trillion between 2016 and 2040. We are talking about lost income from tourism, beaches that need to be cleaned up, contaminated rivers, communities flooding as plastic waste clogs drains, fishing communities that are increasingly catching little more than plastic bottles and bags, and more. Ending plastic pollution is clearly a human health, planetary health, economic health and business health imperative. This is why, on World Environment Day, the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) and the host nation, the Republic of Korea, are mobilising communities across the globe to #BeatPlasticPollution. Make no mistake: the world is moving to end plastic pollution. More than 90 countries have put in place some form of restriction on single-use plastic bags. Circular economy An initiative by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Unep has committed more than 500 businesses, governments and organisations to creating a circular economy, in which plastics never become pollution. In 2022, at the UN Environment Assembly, the nations of the world kick-started negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. Negotiators are now working hard to deliver a deal at the next round of negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, this August. But if we are to turn this global movement into a future free of plastic pollution, we need to apply a circular approach across the full lifecycle of plastics – ensuring that plastic stays in the economy, where it belongs, not in our oceans, our soils or our bodies. Recycling alone will not be enough. Only 21% of plastic today is economically recyclable, defined as when the value of recycled material is high enough to cover the cost of collecting, sorting and processing it. This is part of the reason why only nine percent of plastics are being recycled. We need a complete rethink of how we design, make, use and reuse plastics. Products should be designed to be used more than once and to be recycled at the end of their life. We need to think about shifting to refill systems, and more. The transition must be just: to protect the livelihoods of waste pickers and affected communities, and to find affordable alternatives for poor communities living day-to-day – people who can afford to purchase only small quantities of a particular product or rely on clean drinking water available in plastic sachets. There is work to do, but the rewards of ending plastic pollution will be plentiful: cleaner oceans and lands, healthier people and ecosystems, greater climate resilience, new job opportunities and stronger economies. Governments and businesses have a key leadership role to play, through investment and innovation in new approaches. But every one of us can make a difference. The choices we make can shape industries, shift markets and redefine our collective future. On World Environment Day, do whatever you can, wherever you can, to reduce plastic pollution and help carry everyone towards a cleaner, safer and more prosperous world. DM Inger Andersen is Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep).
Morocco World
22-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco, Mali Strengthen Environmental Cooperation Through Strategic Dialogue
Rabat – Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, held extensive virtual talks today with her Malian counterpart Mariam Tangara Doumbia. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation to address climate and environmental challenges, advancing joint projects based on solidarity, knowledge transfer, and regional integration. During the meeting, Minister Benali emphasized that under the guidance of King Mohammed VI, Morocco places its relationship with the rest of Africa at the heart of its strategic priorities. She highlighted Morocco's commitment to a new generation of South-South partnerships centered on efficiency, solidarity, and tangible results . Benali also shed light on Morocco's initiatives to promote sustainable development in the region, such as the Royal Atlantic Initiative for the Sahel countries and Mali's active participation in the Sahel Climate Committee, which serves as a crucial platform for regional climate coordination. The Moroccan minister stressed the importance of practical discussions to activate bilateral cooperation, especially in areas of expertise sharing, technology transfer, capacity building, and innovative climate adaptation solutions. She commended Mali's strong commitment to environmental and sustainable development issues, recalling past coordinated efforts, including close cooperation during Morocco's presidency of the UN Environment Assembly. For her part, Minister Tangara Doumbia lauded Morocco's leadership in energy transition, climate financing, and environmental policy governance, recognizing the country's expertise in supporting environmental projects across Africa. She also expressed Mali's keen interest in benefiting from Morocco's experience in renewable energy , waste valorization, and the enhancement of training and capacity-building systems. Tangara Doumbia outlined several pressing challenges facing Mali, notably the energy crisis, solid waste management, water pollution caused by unregulated mining, and rapid degradation of agricultural lands. She emphasized the need for innovative and integrated approaches involving environmental transformation projects and circular economy solutions, particularly converting waste into energy and organic fertilizers to support sustainable agriculture. In response, Minister Benali expressed Morocco's readiness to share its expertise with Mali in these fields and expressed the desire to deepen cooperation in agricultural research, sustainable land management, and the use of renewable energy in agriculture. She pointed to the key role of the OCP Group, through its academic branch with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and its R&D subsidiary InnoVx, in driving research and innovation related to sustainable agriculture and soil management, including desert soils. Both sides agreed on the urgency of accelerating technical discussions between their ministerial teams to establish a cooperation framework on these priorities, aiming to sign an agreement as soon as possible. They also pledged to launch joint field projects focused on waste valorization, climate adaptation, and circular economy development, reaffirming their shared commitment to building a sustainable environmental future anchored in climate sovereignty.
