The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional group of 15 countries, is considering the adoption of a regional action plan to combat plastic pollution, an official said Monday.
Bernard Yao Koffi, ECOWAS director for environment and natural resources, made the remarks during an interview at a two-day World Bank Group-supported workshop aimed at helping the subregion tackle plastic pollution.
"Many of our member states have introduced national action plans to address plastic pollution, with some even aiming to ban single-use plastics. However, these efforts have faced implementation challenges," Koffi said.
A fish trapped in fishing nets. /CFP
ECOWAS now seeks to adopt a collective approach to the menace because the situation is serious with a heavy toll on the environment, the sea, aquaculture and marine life, he said.
The plastic menace also poses health risks to humans because many marine lives that humans consume were found to contain heavy amounts of plastic in their digestive systems and other internal organs, he said.
"This is a shared problem we must address together. We need to identify the obstacles and find collective solutions to tackle this menace," he added.
The proposed regional action plan would focus on public education, promoting alternatives to plastic for packaging and bags, and encouraging recycling and reuse efforts, among other measures.
(Cover via CFP)