KIGALI, Rwanda

African environmentalists urged a collective effort and cooperation among individuals, governments and organizations Thursday to combat plastic pollution on the continent.

In comments about World Environment Day, the environmentalists cited numerous health and environmental threats caused by plastic, urging governments to adopt circular policies.

The theme for World Environment Day 2025 is “Beat Plastic Pollution” -- a global call to action to rethink plastic use and protect the planet.

“We should all be part of the solution; start by segregating your waste at the source because plastic is not just a nuisance but an urgent environmental challenge we have to beat,” Jean Nduwamungu, a Rwandan forestry expert at the University of Rwanda told Anadolu. “The public should properly manage their plastic waste, say no to single-use plastics, support recyclers and innovators in order to prevent plastic pollution and ensure a healthier environment.”

Ugandan environmental activist Susan Mwebesa highlighted the dangers of plastics, including clogging waterways, contaminating water bodies, endangering wildlife and eventually finding its way into food systems.

“Together, we need to move from slogan to action, because a cleaner continent and a healthier planet, begins with all of us,” she said.

Plastic production accounted for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, with 90% of the emissions attributed to the use of fossil fuels, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Inger Andersen, UN under-secretary-general and executive director of the UN Environment program based in Nairobi, Kenya, said, “Plastic does not have a role to play in society,” adding that the way countries produce, use and discard plastics has swamped the world in pollution.

Plastic is a significant contributor to climate change, according to environmentalists.

As such, governments in Africa are taking measures to reduce plastic, promote recycling while encouraging sustainable packaging alternatives.

Rwanda, for example, banned plastic bags in 2008 and began phasing out single-use plastics in 2019.

The Rwanda Environment Authority said every action counts to beat plastic pollution and protect precious biodiversity.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Leon Mulumba, the provincial Environment Minister, said everyone should become aware of putting an end to pollution.

“Let's get together, members of the government, technical and financial partners so that the fight against plastic pollution is a reality in the city of Kinshasa,” he said during World Environment Day celebrations in Kinshasa.