DILI, 06 june 2023 ( TATOLI)– The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) in Timor – Leste, Marc Fiedrich, said plastic is one of the main worldwide plagues for the environment and humans.
Marc Fiedrich statement was made in line with the Environment World Day festival with the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution and Save the Planet”.
Ambassador Fiedrich said plastic can affect human health, destroy ecosystems, and harm wildlife – especially marine species. Its production, use, and disposal is an important contributor to greenhouse gas emission. It is found polluting all the place, at the top of the mountain, in the agriculture field, even in a clean house.
“Timor-Leste, which is in fact the top of the iceberg as most of the plastic waste is in the form of invisible microelements. I read in some reports that 400 million metric tons of plastic are produced per year worldwide. 11% of the plastic waste are mismanaged and enter freshwater and marine environment. These are alarming numbers” Ambassador said.
Although there is an increasing awareness of the impact of plastic there is a long path to limit or abolish this product. But there are some positive signs.
“One year ago, the United Nations took a critical step. They agreed to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment with the ambition to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024. Timor-Leste participated in this Assembly,” Marc Frederick explained.
He expressed that the discussion at the UN revealed that a shift to a circular economy can reduce the volume of plastics entering oceans by over 80 percent by 2040; reduce virgin plastic production by 55 percent; save governments US$70 billion by 2040; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent; and create 700,000 additional jobs – mainly in the global south.
“I hope someone will take a closer look at what the concrete benefits accruing to Timor-Leste will be since I am sure that they are substantial and that we all, collectively, are not aware enough of them” he added.
He said recently the negotiation for a legally binding instrument is ongoing. Just 3 days ago another working session ended in Paris. It will not be easy to agree.
“We have all become so used to plastic in all aspects of our lives that it is challenging for us to even imagine a world without plastic,”
The EU is part of this global ambition to reduce considerably the plastic production, use, and waste. For example, since 2021 single-use plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks, and cotton buds can no longer be placed on the markets of the EU Member States.
Certain plastic products, good for one-time use only and for which alternatives exist, are banned. Specific measures are also introduced to reduce the use of certain products: “And this approach will remain necessary for a long time if we want to turn the EU into a circular economy, i.e. one that reuses and regenerates the materials that we use on a day to day basis so that we produce more sustainably and more environmentally-friendly,”
Therefore he said, the EU is aware that negotiating an international treaty is important but not enough. EU’s support to Hamenus Lixu Plastiku is an example of EU concrete engagement in Timor-Leste and also hoping to advance at the regional level through our PACWASTE project.
“Your and our efforts will hopefully inspire many others to join in, so that we effectively reduce, reuse and recycle plastic. It’s an effort that we need to make in our own homes and communities, in our municipalities and countries as well as at the international level, we are here, through this campaign, to contribute to this effort at our level. Let’s make this event a great success, let’s learn and share, let s Beat Plastic Pollution and Save the Planet,” he concluded.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor : Nelia B.