Guyana to implement ban on single-use plastics by 2021

The Guyana government says it hopes to implement a systematic ban of single–use plastics by 2021

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, addressing the World Wildlife Day Youth Forum, said “the work has already begun on sensitising our population to the fact that 2021 is the date we have identified for a ban on single-use plastic.”

The authorities said that as much as 40 per cent of the oceans is tremendously affected by pollution with an estimated eight million metric tons of plastic waste entering the world’s ocean annually, and Harmon said this “provides a good opportunity to raise awareness about the vast diversity of marine life globally, its crucial importance to human development and the importance of prudent management of marine resources for future generations”.’

This year’s World Wildlife Day theme ‘Life below Water: for People and Planet’ aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 which speaks to the conservation of the oceans. This includes the expansion of protected areas for marine biodiversity, intensification of research capacity and increases in ocean science funding which remain critically important to preserve marine resources.

Harmon said in addition to aligning with SDG 14, the theme also aligns with Objective Three of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

“Objective Three includes the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of coastal and marine resources is, therefore, aimed at ensuring that Guyana adopts an enhanced program and institute measures to engage in the sustainable use and preservation of our marine and coastal ecosystems.”

Several Caribbean countries have already implemented bans on single-use plastics.