Committed to joining the Clean Seas programme, says PM

India has among the lowest per capita consumption of plastic in the world, “much lower” than that of many developed countries, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the World Environment Day celebrations here on Tuesday. He, however, said India was committed to reducing the use of plastic and would join the Clean Seas programme — a Sweden-led initiative to reduce littering of marine ecosystems.

The theme for this year’s Environment Day, organised in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, is “Beat plastic pollution”. India is the global host nation for the 43rd edition of this event. Environment Ministers, representatives from the United Nations and members from various industry bodies were among the officials who attended the event.

“Plastic threatens to be a menace to humanity … it is already having a deadly impact on our marine ecosystem. Scientists as well as fishermen speak of declining fish catches, warming oceans, vanishing habitats and the major trans-boundary problem of micro-plastics,” Mr. Modi said.

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Noting that India was the fastest growing economy in the world today, he said, “We are committed to raising the standards of living of our people” and “to ensure that we do so in a way that is sustainable and green”.

He said that as part of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), India was committed to reducing 33-35% of emission intensity of its GDP during 2005-2030.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, India generates about 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day, of which about 40% remains uncollected. About 70% of the plastic packaging products become “waste” in a short span of time. While plastics have a wide variety of applications, the global rally is against the so-called “single use” or disposable plastic — used in bottles, cups, wrapping paper and bags. Together, they account for over half the plastic produced.

The Environment Ministry, two years ago, notified plastic waste management rules that sought to control the manufacture of the particular kind of plastics. However, several States and city corporations have been unable to effectively enforce the rules — particularly the provision that bans the use of bags less than 50 microns thick.

(With PTI inputs)