Malaysia is among the top importers of plastic waste in the developing world, and plastic pollution is choking not just our landfills, but our rivers, seas, and communities. From ghost nets floating in our oceans to microplastics in our drinking water, plastic pollution is no longer just an environmental issue, it’s a human health crisis and an economic threat. As governments meet to finalise a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty in Geneva this August, Malaysian civil society groups have issued a memorandum urging our leaders to take a stronger stand. We speak with Wong Pui Yi, a researcher from the Basel Action Network, and Rachel Thompson, the Manager of Scuba Junkie SEAS, about what’s at stake in these treaty talks, and why it matters for everyday Malaysians.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

<p>Malaysia is among the top importers of plastic waste in the developing world, and plastic pollution is choking not just our landfills, but our rivers, seas, and communities. From ghost nets floating in our oceans to microplastics in our drinking water, plastic pollution is no longer just an environmental issue, it’s a human health crisis and an economic threat. As governments meet to finalise a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty in Geneva this August, Malaysian civil society groups have issued a memorandum urging our leaders to take a stronger stand. We speak with Wong Pui Yi, a researcher from the Basel Action Network, and Rachel Thompson, the Manager of Scuba Junkie SEAS, about what’s at stake in these treaty talks, and why it matters for everyday Malaysians.<br><br>Image Credit: Shutterstock</p>

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

Advertisement