ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan has said that plastic pollution is poisoning our oceans and land, injuring marine life and affecting our health.
In his message on Earth Day, the minister said that our lives depend on biological diversity, adding that species and ecosystems are disappearing at an unsustainable rate and we humans are responsible.
Mushahidullah said that we stand to lose a wide variety of environmental goods and services that we take for granted. He said that the consequences for economies and people will be profound.
The minister also highlighted that with present approach to development, we have caused the clearing of much of the original forest, drained half of the world’s wetlands, depleted three quarters of all fish stocks, and emitted enough heat-trapping gases to keep our planet warming for centuries to come. As a result, we are increasingly risking the loss of the very foundation of our own survival, he added.
Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that the variety of life on our planet gives us our food, clothes, fuel, medicine and much, much more. He urged this day is an opportunity to stress the importance of natural resources for human well-being, reflect on our achievements to safeguard it.
Earth Day is observed on April 22 every Year. Earth Day 2018 is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally change human attitude and behavior about plastics. This year’s global theme is “End Plastic Pollution”.