Morocco hosts workshop to address urgent environmental issues, commits to tackling plastic pollution

In commemoration of World Environment Day, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development organized a national workshop today in Rabat to tackle the urgent issue of plastic pollution. The workshop shed light on the challenges and opportunities surrounding this global environmental crisis.

According to the United Nations Environment Program, 400 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year, with approximately half of it being used only once before becoming waste. The complete decomposition of plastic can take hundreds of years.

The workshop coincided with the celebration of World Oceans Day. Oceans have become repositories for waste, with human activities accounting for 80% of total waste, including 75% plastic. 

Every year, an estimated 11 million tons of plastic waste is dumped into the oceans. This  number could triple by 2040 if no action is taken. This pollution not only harms ecosystems but also poses a significant threat to human health. 

“This pollution knows no borders, and has a major impact on the environment, as well as enormous socio-economic costs,” said the minister in a speech given on this occasion. 

The transition to a circular economy could reduce plastic flow into the oceans by over 80% by 2040, cut virgin plastic production by 55%, save governments $70 billion by 2040, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25%, and generate around 700,000 new jobs, primarily in developing countries.

The minister also saluted the visionary leadership of King Mohammed VI and the early proactive measures taken to address environmental pollution. “Our country has demonstrated a profound awareness of the challenges posed by pollution, with a particular focus on plastic pollution,” she said.

The minister called for mutual collaboration among all stakeholders to decrease the usage of plastic. “We face an urgent need for collective mobilization to decrease the usage and consumption of highly polluting plastics and promote the widespread adoption of sustainable alternatives and solutions,” she emphasized.

Morocco has actively joined various multilateral and regional agreements addressing this issue and has implemented a range of legal and regulatory measures. The country has launched several programs aimed at reducing and preventing plastic waste, including the ban on manufacturing, importing, exporting, and marketing of plastic bags, as well as the implementation of an eco-tax on plastic products.