Change mindsets to address plastic pollution
Published on: Saturday, January 11, 2020
By: Ottey Peter
Berahaman (second left seated) in a group photo with the students.
Kota Kinabalu: The best way to address plastic pollution is to change people’s mindsets in terms of value and attitude alteration towards much higher environmental sustainability awareness and commitment, said University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dr Ramzah Dambul.He said that people especially the younger generation could act as catalysts for adults around them to start reflecting on their habits as consumers.ADVERTISEMENT
“Plastic pollution started since plastic was first manufactured in 1950 and it became augmented with approximately 8.3 billion tonnes produced worldwide thus far. Ultimately, to address the issue, it starts with changing consumers’ behaviours and mindsets.
“We should encourage people especially the young ones to take action by reducing plastic waste. This also will help them become leaders in their communities to ensure that people join the global fight in tackling the scourge of single-use plastic that is damaging to our environment.
“It fits very well in the agenda to mould the right mindset among the younger generation for a liveable, viable and sustainable future,” he said when officiating Plastic Pollution and Marine Conservation Environmental Education programme at Marine Museum and Aquarium, Borneo Marine Research Institute, UMS.
He was represented by UMS Director of EcoCampus Management Centre, Professor Dr Berahaman Ahmad.ADVERTISEMENT
The programme was organised by UMS, involving students from Hokkaido Sapporo Keisei High School, SM All Saints and SK Lok Yuk Inanam who collaboratively surveyed for macroplastic wastes and micplastics at UMS Beach via the quadrate sampling technique.
Ramzah said it is also focuses on the detrimental impacts of plastic pollution and seriousness of microplastics presence in natural environment.
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He said besides being able to create a baseline data on microplastics presence at the beaches in UMS, Japan and Australia for future reference, the programme is well suited for UMS as an EcoCampus that has been upholding the EcoCampus agenda to become a reference centre in sustainable development.
He hoped that such programme would be continued in future to address plastic pollution.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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“This programme, which was co-coordinated by the EcoCampus Management Centre, is imperative in highlighting the relevance of the university in spearheading sustainable development initiatives in the nation and region, to achieve the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
“Hence, we sincerely hope that Hokkaido Sapporo Keisei High School will continue to collaborate with UMS in co-organising the programme beyond 2020,” he said.