Rwanda is an example to the world that a developing country can take firm action.
1. Why have governments failed to enforce effective bans on single-use plastics despite decades of evidence showing their environmental harm?
I believe it is because governments are afraid of irritating customers as well as the plastic industry. Governments are often not innovative and they tend to be risk averse. Governments see all the problems, not the solutions.
But there is hope. Rwanda is an example to the world that a developing country can take firm action. The streets of Kigali are cleaner than my home in Norway. There is simply no plastics floating around. Why? Because President Kagame has made cleanliness a personal political campaign and has provided both the means to keep clean and changed the behavior of the people. He has managed to make Rwandans keep as clean in the commons as in their homes.
In India the city of Indore (3 million) is nicknamed the "cleanest city in India". The story is the same. Visionary leaders have created a system for sorting of garbage at source in homes and businesses. Wet waste is used to power the city buses, reducing pollution, tuning waste into value. The people of Indore are immensely proud of their city.
2. How do you explain governments prioritizing economic growth over strict regulations to curb plastic pollution in oceans and ecosystems?
There is no reason to believe a plastic ban will inhibit economic growth.
We have implemented the polluter pays principle in the West for nearly all industrial pollutants. That has not stopped us growing our economy. In the US it was even led by conservative presidents like Richard Nixon and George Bush Sr.
Extended Producer Responsibility is the parallel in the plastics age. The companies who push plastics to the market must be responsible for innovating better products, avoiding plastics which cannot be recycled and paying for the waste management systems.
3. What's stopping governments from investing heavily in scalable waste management systems to tackle the global plastic crisis?
Nothing as the examples of Rwanda and Indore shows.
I however believe governments should help business becoming responsible. That will supercharge the transformation.
China is using horrendous amounts of plastics because the people is so concerned with keeping their food and cosmetic products clean. But it's rare to see plastics in nature whether in the big cities or in rural ares. That is of course because the government has invested big in waste management systems and have been able to influence the behavior of citizens.
4. Why do many governments still lack accountability for allowing industries to produce excessive plastic without mandatory recycling targets?
Except for nations with strong leadership, like in many Asia nations like Korea, Singapore, India, China, Vietnam and more, governments are weak and risk averse.
Many politicians I know are much more afraid of doing something wrong than eager to get something important right. Media criticizes the slightest mistake and problem,but hardly ever hails the successful nation builders.
We need bold politicians!
5. During your time as Former Minister of Climate and the Environment of Norway, what concrete actions did you take to address plastic pollution? And what solutions do you believe are most effective in tackling the plastic crisis?
Norway has a relative well functioning waste management system. A particular plastic issue in Norway is the disposal of fishing nets. Return systems with rewards must be established.
I mainly worked on plastics as the head of UN Environment. We decided to launch the global "beat plastic" campaign because we realized plastic pollution is an environment, economic and health threat of the first order. Even if results are slower than expected, I believe we can take great pride in making plastic pollution a high profile peoples issue.
The good news is that we know the solutions. Refuse - avoid use of unnecessary plastic products like straws, cutlery and cups. Replace - be more innovative and find other materials which can be used to face out plastic. Bamboo is a great example . Recycle - the plastics we need to keep our cars light and our hospitals safe (and a lot more) must be recycled.
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