Nigeria to benefit as UK approves £16.2m to tackle plastic pollution in developing countries

The UK government, through its Blue Planet Fund, has approved £16.2 million to tackle plastic pollution in developing countries — including Nigeria.

In a statement on Friday, the government announced that the £16.2 million funding is part of the UK’s £500 million Blue Planet Fund projects to tackle climate change and protect the world’s oceans.

A part of the funds will go towards the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), a programme of the World Economic Forum, which has Nigeria as a participant country.

Programmes expected to be financed from the funding will focus on marine protection and tackling plastic pollution in Nigeria, Ghana, Indonesia, Vietnam, among others.

“Marine pollution, including plastic pollution, is a significant pressure on the marine environment – not only does it threaten key species and ecosystems in the world’s ocean, it also affects the health and livelihoods of those living in coastal regions,” the statement reads.

“A share of the £16.2m will also go towards the expansion of the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP)’s pioneering work in developing countries and facilitate a united effort against plastic waste globally.

“Since its launch in 2018, GPAP secured a commitment by Indonesia to reduce 70% of mismanaged waste by 2025 and a commitment by Viet Nam to reduce marine plastic waste by 75% by 2030, among others.

“The UK is also leading calls for a new global ‘30by30’ target to protect at least 30% of the land and at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. Over eighty countries now support the marine protection target, and the Blue Planet Fund will help make sure that 30by30 becomes a reality.”