LASG INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLASTIC POLLUTION
…Initiates Green Award, Calls for Nominations
The Lagos State Government has urged Lagosians to be proactive in the fight to end plastic pollution in order to protect and preserve the planet earth.
A statement issued by the State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti to mark the 2018 World Earth Day, urged Lagosians to be protective of the earth as it is a blessing to mankind.
“The Earth is a blessing to mankind because it is our source of water, food, medicine, and shelter”, he remarked.
Durosinmi-Etti explained that the World Earth Day, celebrated on every April 22, was a day set aside to appreciate and demonstrate support for environmental protection. He said it had been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues such as climate change, marine pollution, global warming, and wildlife crime amongst others.
The Commissioner said the earth was a magnificent space with incredibly complex and vibrant ecosystem, where living organisms interact with each other and their environment to create ideal conditions for living.
He, therefore, implored Lagosians to protect the biodiversity of Lagos State and embrace acts that lead to the conservation of the environment.
He stated that the 2018 edition of the world Earth Day with the theme “End Plastic Pollution” was dedicated to spreading awareness about dangers of plastic pollution, adding that it was time to recognise the need to end its use through persistent advocacy.
“Plastic pollution is poisoning our waters and lands, injuring marine lives and affecting our overall health”, he said.
The Commissioner also used the opportunity to appeal to Lagosians to support household and community recycling with the reuse of plastic related materials to reduce the effect of plastic pollution in the environment.
Meanwhile, to commemorate the 2018 World Environment Day on June 5, the Lagos State Government has initiated an Environmental Award tagged “Lagos Green Award” to recognise and honour individuals, groups and organisations that have contributed to the environment.
The concept of the Award, which would be in nine different categories, was one of the deliberate policies of the present administration to stimulate the appreciation of the environment among Lagosians.
According to Durosinmi-Etti, “Our environment will be safer if we all embrace the opportunity to get involved in protecting the environment which is the superstructure on which our civilization rests”.
He said that members of the public could nominate deserving individuals, groups or organisations whose action have directly improved the environmental resilience of Lagos State in any of the nine areas, namely Environmental Management, Best Environment Practices, Oil Spill Management, Health, Safety & Environmental Performance, Waste Prevention & Recycling, Solid Waste Treatment & Disposal, Emission- Control Technologies, Natural Resources Conservation as well as Innovation and Sustainable Solutions.
Awards will be conferred after a competitive selection process that will assess nominees against different sets of environmental performance criteria.
All nominations or entries for awards are expected to clearly identify an environmental initiative and its impact on Lagos State.