Students form human message for global plastics treaty

In a powerful display of environmental activism, 190 students from SMK Datuk Hj Mohamed Nor Ahmad in Gelugor, Penang, collaborated with Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia) and the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) to create a human sign spelling out “Strong Plastic Treaty” on their school field. Accompanied by a cloth banner reading “Reduce Plastic Production,” this impactful statement was aimed at urging world leaders to address the plastic pollution crisis in the upcoming UN global plastics treaty negotiations this November.

The event on 8 October 2024 also included 400 attendees who participated in a discussion on plastic pollution and the treaty’s potential for curbing the crisis. The school’s senior assistant for co-curriculum, Mohamad Adham bin Sallehon said this is an opportunity for students to commit to reducing plastic use for the sake of future generations. He emphasized the importance of addressing plastic pollution’s harmful impact on human health and the environment.

The Global Plastics Crisis

The school assembly was addressed by Mageswari Sangaralingam, Honorary Secretary of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, who highlighted the gravity of the global plastic waste problem. “Worldwide, more than 400 million tons of plastic is produced yearly, with over half of this being single-use plastics. Producing these plastics emits massive amounts of greenhouse gases and toxic chemicals, which jeopardize human health and accelerate climate change,” she stated.

Globally, plastic pollution has reached crisis proportions. Daily, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks filled with plastic waste are dumped into oceans, rivers, and lakes. The Global Plastics Treaty, set for finalization by the end of 2024, presents a vital opportunity to implement systemic changes across the entire plastics lifecycle, from production and packaging to disposal.

Accountability and a Sustainable Solution

The Penang demonstration forms part of a worldwide initiative, with similar actions organized by Friends of the Earth chapters in countries like South Korea during the Plastics Treaty Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting. As countries like Malaysia bear the brunt of plastic waste imported from wealthier nations, global momentum is intensifying to counteract the influence of corporate and fossil fuel interests that threaten the treaty’s impact.

According to Meenakshi Raman, President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, communities worldwide are rallying for a treaty that addresses pollution at every stage, holding corporations accountable and preventing regions from becoming dumping grounds for plastic waste.

With hopes that the treaty will uphold strict accountability standards, Sahabat Alam Malaysia and CAP stand firm in advocating for Malaysia’s role in shaping a strong, effective agreement to curb plastic pollution.