CARTAGENA, Colombia, CMC -Two Jamaican cities, together with the capital, Kingston, are included in a brand new initiative aimed toward lowering marine plastics and plastic air pollution in Latin America and Caribbean cities by way of a Round Economic system Method (GEF LAC Cities) that just lately launched an intercity community on plastics round economic system in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
The launch introduced collectively key representatives from municipal and nationwide authorities, in addition to from the World Setting Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Setting Programme (UNEP).
A press release issued following the launch stated that the assembly highlighted the relevance of regional collaboration as a elementary pillar for implementing sustainable options and addressing the environmental challenges posed by plastic air pollution.
The community’s anticipated outcomes embody selling a harmonized regional agenda, establishing a coordinated method to the plastics round economic system on the metropolis stage, and strengthening capability for round options at native, nationwide, and regional ranges.
Based on the assertion, plastic air pollution, together with marine plastics, represents one of many foremost environmental challenges for LAC, impacting human well being, ecosystems, and the regional economic system.
The assertion stated that to handle this downside, the cities of Barranquilla and Cartagena in Colombia, Kingston and Montego Bay in Jamaica, and Panama Metropolis and Colón in Panama will type a part of this community that seeks to advertise regional cooperation, share experiences, and finest practices, and promote round and sustainable approaches to addressing plastic air pollution, together with marine plastics.
It stated the community plans to broaden progressively to further cities within the LAC over the approaching years.
“This launch marks a milestone in joint efforts to sort out plastic air pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean, driving a standard imaginative and prescient and sustainable options on the native stage for cities within the area,” stated Jacqueline Álvarez, Chief of the UNEP’s Chemical substances and Well being Department.
The Mayor of Cartagena, Dumek Turbay, stated being a part of the Intercity Community on Plastics Round Economic system “confirms our dedication to sustainability, which has been mirrored within the “Cartagena Metropolis of Rights” Improvement Plan.
“Our planning roadmap contains key initiatives akin to strengthening recyclers’ and waste pickers’ organizations, implementing sustainable enterprise fashions, and driving.
“With shut collaboration with regional environmental authorities, we anticipate important environmental actions, such because the safety of water sources, the safety of ecosystems, and the promotion of sustainable practices, thus contributing to a extra equitable future for all. These actions reinforce Cartagena’s dedication to the round economic system and sustainable growth,” stated Turbay.
The community shall be consolidated as an area for cities to collaborate in implementing round economic system methods alongside the plastic worth chain.
With the help of the UNEP’s Cartagena Conference Secretariat, this platform may even foster partnerships with further stakeholders, facilitating the implementation of motion plans that may be replicated in different cities within the area to cut back plastic air pollution.
“When the Cartagena Conference was adopted in 1983 and the Land Primarily based Sources of Marine Protocol in 1999, pressing motion was wanted to cut back air pollution from strong waste, together with plastics,” stated Chris Corbin, the coordinator for the Cartagena Conference Secretariat, Ecosystems Division at UNEP.
“The launch of this Cities Community presents a change in method. We are able to now not solely deal with bettering the gathering and disposal of waste and plastics to forestall air pollution. Round Economic system approaches are actually viable and sustainable options that supply environmental, social, and financial advantages.
“We look ahead to proceed constructing on this community and replicating the teachings realized all through the Wider Caribbean area,” stated Corbin.
The regional undertaking supervisor for the GEF LAC Cities Undertaking, Taylor Clayton, stated that in just a few months, they count on to have a finalized settlement with world scope that can align coverage concerning the manufacturing and consumption of plastic merchandise.
“As this course of unfolds, we’ve an incredible alternative to be a frontrunner on this area and the world in making progress towards plastic air pollution on the metropolis stage,” stated Clayton.
