PORT MORESBY MARKS WORLD OCEAN DAY AND WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2021

PORT MORESBY: NCD Governor Hon. Powes Parkop today announced initiatives to fight ocean pollution in the city.

Governor Parkop made the announcements today following a Walk and Yoga for Life program in honour of 2021 World Ocean Day.

In that, he unveiled Commission’s initiative to buy back plastic for recycling. 

Additionally, he said mechanism and governance for the initiative is still at infant stage.  NCDC will make further announcements about it later, he said.

He also announced sea front cleaning by schools and active city volunteers.

RECYCLING PLASTIC: BUY-BACK PLASTIC

Further, he said for the start, K20 000 has been allocated to pilot it.

More so, he said schools will become key stakeholders engaged for plastic buy-back program.

Furthermore, NCDC will extend it to general public when a system being worked on,  is in place, he said.

Governor Parkop led students and other city residents picking up plastic and cleaning sea fronts.

That was after the end of the celebrations at the redeveloped Sir Hubert Murray Stadium today. https://pngsun.com/2021/05/30/world-environment-day-program-launched/

CELEBRATIONS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES 

The celebrations in dances, awareness and action today were all part of a week-long program and activities in the city to honour both World Environment Day and World Ocean Day. 

Last week, the first National Forum on Protected Areas and, Environment and Climate Emergency Summit were hosted in the city in the lead up to the World Environment Day 2021 which was celebrated in style on Saturday 05, June. https://www.pg.undp.org/content/papua_new_guinea/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2019/png-joins-global-community-to-celebrate-world-environment-day–.html

The participating schools, Kilakila Secondary, Kilakila Primary, Koki Primary, Badili Vocational, Sevese Morea Primary, Koki Vocational and St Francis Primary were cleaning sea fronts of Kanudi, Ela Beach, Tatana, Konedada and Idubada.

Governor Parkop called on residents to recycle plastic in light of plastic bottles finding their way into the ocean through drainages and waterways during the extreme wet weather season.

PLASTIC’S IMPACTS ON MARINE LIFE

He said plastic affect the marine life in different ways, adding nearly 80 per cent of plastic pollution enters the ocean from land.

Plastic reaches streams, drainages and waterways when littered or dumped and finally end up in the ocean, he said.

The flash floods in the city, he said, exacerbate the ocean pollution.

Governor Parkop said the Centre for Biology Diversity reported that ‘at least 267 different species have been affected by plastic pollution in the ocean.’

“The facts are very alarming with more than 100,000 marine animals being killed by plastic bags annually.
One in three leatherback sea turtles have been found with plastic in their stomachs,” he said.

He extended his commendation to volunteers and NGOs as well.

“It is all result of irresponsible behaviours of our residents just dumping rubbish in drains,” he said.