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Somalia has announced a ban on single-use plastic bags beginning from the end of June. said Mogadishu has “completely banned the import, export, manufacture, trade, and use of single-use bags in Somalia starting June 30, 2024.
The Somalian Environment and Climate Change Ministry announces a complete ban on the import, export, manufacture, trade, and use of single-use bags in Somalia starting June 30, 2024.The ministry urged companies and entrepreneurs in Somalia to invent alternatives to plastic bags that do not harm the environment. The government is supporting businesses in finding materials that can replace single-use plastic bags.Climate change enthusiasts and environmental activists have welcomed the decision.
Somalia Representative of the Nordic International Support Foundation, Kassim Gabowduale, said single-use plastics have wreaked havoc across the country and endangered life on land and in the marine environment. He said plastic bags have become the main source of pollution killing land animals and those in the sea. The absence of waste management in Somalia especially in major cities is to blame for people dumping waste, especially plastic in the oceans, he said. He added that the ban will reduce the harm caused to the environment in Somalia.
Plastic bags, due to their lightweight nature, which can be easily carried by wind and water, lead to widespread littering in cities, rural areas, and water bodies in Somalia. This litter pollutes the environment, including beaches, rivers, and agricultural lands. The plastics have had a detrimental effect on the environment in the country, added Abdullahi A. Hassan, executive director of the Community Action for Climate Change (CACC).
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President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud committed USD 10 million to tackling climate change, desertification, and protecting biodiversity in 2023. Africa is increasingly exposed to climate shocks, although it only contributes 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
