Africa-Press – Cape verde. Minister of Agriculture and Environment Gilberto Silva warned this Tuesday that plastics should be better used and plastic pollution should be combated due to the threat it poses to life on Earth and the sustainability of development.
Gilberto Silva was speaking at the launch of the IslandPlas – Cabo Verde project: “Promoting Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution on African Islands,” which he chaired, noting that combating plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue today, but also a matter of sovereignty, national dignity, and intergenerational responsibility.
The event marks the beginning of the national implementation of this project, which will involve different stakeholders in combating plastic pollution, in alignment with the country’s environmental policies.
Funded by the Coca-Cola Global Foundation with ten million dollars and implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this project aims to promote circular solutions to reduce plastic pollution on African islands, supporting Cabo Verde in implementing innovative waste management measures, social inclusion, and the promotion of the circular economy.
“We are called upon to frequently warn about the triple environmental crisis the planet is experiencing. We are referring to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and within pollution, plastic pollution represents a very worrying proportion due to the threat it poses to life on Earth and the sustainability of development,” reiterated the Minister of Environment.
According to the Minister, although Cape Verde is a small country, it must also set an example and, at its own level, contribute to a better world.
“We will have to learn from each other, in action and for action, so that we can all ensure a better present and a better future for all,” he added.
In this context, he said that Cape Verde is naturally affected by this plastics problem and, according to estimates, imports approximately 17,200 tons of plastics of various types and for various purposes annually. Therefore, it must also be part of the solution, and that the fight must be waged both nationally and internationally.
“At the national level, it is worth noting that in recent years the country has taken firm and ambitious steps to address this issue. Notable are the awareness campaigns for the population and businesses, as well as the numerous cleanup efforts carried out with strong public involvement, under the leadership of NGOs and other civil society organizations, and with the strong involvement of municipalities and the government,” he emphasized.
Gilberto Silva, for whom these actions have “strongly contributed” to the educational process within Cape Verdean society, also highlighted private investment in plastic recycling and the entry into force of the Plastics Law, Law 22-X-2023, which regulates the production, import, distribution, and sale of single-use plastics, as an important milestone in the country’s environmental agenda.
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