Maharashtra joins hands with WEF in fight against plastic pollution

Davos: Maharashtra government joined hand with World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) in order to advance regional efforts to fight plastic pollution.

The announcement follows the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5), where a resolution was adopted in March 2022 that will hold member nations legally accountable for their contributions to the global plastic pollution crisis.

“By joining the Global Plastic Action Partnership, Maharashtra aims to enhance its commitment to curbing plastic pollution, raise its ambition, and ensure accountability and inclusivity throughout the value chain” said the official statement.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Maharashtra will work with GPAP to launch a National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) in Maharashtra as a platform to tackle plastic waste pollution.
Talking about the agreement, Aaditya Thackeray, Minister of Environment and Climate Change for Maharashtra said “This agreement with the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership marks a critical juncture in our state’s battle against the plastic pollution endemic,”
“Covid proved a hurdle towards our single use plastic ban, where health priorities in PPP took precedent. Now as we refocus on our climate and sustainability objectives, we are laying the foundation to deliver the systems-wide change needed across sectors. This partnership is the building block as we transition towards a more resource circular approach to tackle climate change while strengthening our economy.” he added.

The GPAP-Maharashtra partnership is the first in India. Maharashtra, whose capital city is Mumbai, has an estimated population of 124 million people, larger than countries such as Ethiopia and the Philippines, making this a significant partnership in per capita terms.

Nations currently implementing such partnerships include Indonesia, Ghana, Pakistan, Viet Nam and Nigeria

The NPAP model creates a circular economy framework for plastics through a locally-led, locally-driven platform.
In Maharashtra, it will bring together the state’s most influential policy-makers, business leaders and civil society advocates.
This group will deliver a state-level action plan to radically reduce plastic pollution and connect high-potential solutions with strategic financing opportunities.
“GPAP is thrilled to partner with Maharashtra to continue their efforts to tackle the plastic pollution problem,” said Kristin Hughes, Director of the Global Plastic Action Partnership.

“This partnership with Maharashtra signifies the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s acknowledgement that solutions extend beyond plastic bag bans and that collective action is required. Multiple interventions need to be implemented in a coordinated manner, with strong collaboration between all stakeholders” she added.

Maharashtra is positioning itself as a leader nationally in India in the fight against plastic waste pollution.
In March 2018, the Government of Maharashtra banned the manufacturing, sale and use of single-use plastic bags. It also banned an array of single-use plastic products, including cutlery, straws and containers.