Fiji calls for Pacific cooperation in plastic control efforts

Plastic is one of the contributors to the triple planetary crisis, which includes climate change, marine pollution, and biodiversity loss.

Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Doctor Sivendra Michael says they are now starting to get stakeholders to start talking about alternatives, how they promote locally-led initiatives and also get them to give them feedback around the discussions on the international negotiations that are currently happening.

Doctor Michael says this is the first National Plastic Symposium that has been organized to bring all stakeholders involved into a space where they can discuss how to address the plastic crisis that we are facing. Insert: Dr Michael on plastic IB 16th Oct

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Senior Economist, Doctor Diana Barrowclough says Fiji cannot fight alone for the control of the usage of plastic and it requires cooperation within the Pacific if we need a change.

Doctor Barrowclough says the policy needs to be introduced by the government for the enforcement of the controlled use of plastic.

She says all our efforts will depend on our willingness to make the change.