The Aga Khan University celebrated World Environment Day in 2023 with a panel discussion on plastic pollution at the AKU auditorium and a showing of the documentary.
The Aga Khan University celebrated World Environment Day in 2023 with a panel discussion on plastic pollution at the AKU auditorium and a showing of the documentary “Oceans: The Mystery of the Missing Plastic.”
Experts from a variety of fields came together for a panel discussion on the subject of “Addressing plastic pollution through innovative and local solutions,” where they explored practical solutions to the massive global plastic crisis.
On the panel were Mr Salman Tariq, CEO of Davaam, Ms. Ramlah Tariq, Sustainability Lead at Unilever Pakistan, Mr Ghazi Salahuddin, Regional Head (Sindh and Balochistan) of WWF Pakistan, Dr Mehmood Ali, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering at NED University, and Ms Amber Ajani, Manager Environment and Sustainability at the Aga Khan University.
The documentary that was presented at the event raised awareness about how our addiction to plastic eventually pollutes the deep sea, coral reefs, and other land and marine deposits, and eventually makes its way into our food chain.
World Environment Day is a global commemoration to raise awareness of environmental challenges, with the theme of #BeatPlasticPollution focusing on solutions to plastic pollution.
Our oceans and coastlines are being choked by plastic waste, endangering lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Only 10% of the 400 million tonnes of plastic produced annually around the world is recycled. Microplastics degrade into food, water, and the atmosphere, and 19–23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers, and oceans.
In his welcome speech, Mr. Jamil Ahmed Khan, Senior Advisor in the AKU President’s Office, discussed the problem of plastic pollution. In order to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, he commended the AKU’s Environment and Sustainability team for raising awareness of the problem. The most recent findings in climate science support this.
In a panel discussion, Mr. Salman Tariq (Davaam) and Mr. Ghazi Salahuddin (WWF Pakistan) talked about plastic pollution. Mr. Salahuddin argued that it is the corporate sector’s duty to adopt environmentally friendly production and disposal methods and eliminate those that are harmful. Tariq added that Pakistan wastes 3.3 million tonnes of plastic annually, which is equivalent to two Mount K2s. For people to adopt the plastic-free lifestyle change required for environmental conservation, financial incentives for circularity are crucial.
“Our mantra is reduce, reuse, and recycle,” Ms. Ramlah Tariq, speaking on behalf of Unilever Pakistan, said. By 2025, we want to reduce our consumption of virgin plastic in half. She emphasised the importance of having a multistakeholder model where the government, businesses, and civil society can all collaborate.
“At NED University, we actively work on producing research that can provide useful measures for conserving our environment,” said Dr. Mehmood. Our academic community must play a crucial part in raising awareness, conducting research, and developing solutions to Pakistan’s environmental problems.
“AKU has made concerted efforts to phase-down single-use plastic water bottles globally and is now substituting natural birchwood cutlery for plastic cutlery used for takeaway,” said Ms. Amber Ajani (AKU). At-source plastic use reduction and awareness of our obligations to the environment are urgently needed.
AKU is acting in response to the pollution and climate crises because it understands its responsibility. The four guiding principles of the AKDN-wide Environment and Climate Commitment Statement—responsible stewardship, enhancing the quality of life for the most vulnerable, socially responsible leadership, and setting an example—serve as its foundation. At Aga Khan University in Kenya, a related event sparked discussions about plastic pollution and the need for collective responsibility.