Sabah's plastic predicament: A story of challenge, change
Published on: Monday, May 05, 2025
Published on: Mon, May 05, 2025
By: Alden Alex Raymond, Romandyus Michael Text Size: In Malaysia, the national context reveals the country's significant contribution to marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia. Several factors, including rapid economic growth, urbanisation, and inadequate waste management infrastructure, are primarily responsible for the crisis. THE global plastic crisis looms large, casting a shadow over the world's ecosystems. Each year, millions of tonnes of plastic waste enter our oceans and landfills, creating a planetary emergency that affects every corner of the globe. This relentless tide of plastic is not only unsightly but also disrupts ecosystems, harms wildlife, and ultimately poses a threat to human health. Plastic production has increased exponentially, with projections indicating a continued rise in the coming decades, thus worsening the crisis. The plastic properties that make it so versatile and durable are its low cost, ease of manufacturing, and resistance to degradation, which also fuelled its overuse and improper disposal. This has created a legacy of environmental contamination that will persist for generations to come. International efforts, such as the UN Environment Programme's (Unep) initiatives and global agreements, aim to coordinate action and promote sustainable practices. However, significant challenges remain in implementation and enforcement, extending throughout Asia. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article.
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