Maldives Pledges Full Support for Global Zero Waste Alliance Goals, First Lady Says

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has revealed that the Maldives fully supports the goals of the "Global Zero Waste Alliance," which works at the global level to protect the environment and to find sustainable solutions to the waste problem. She made the remarks at the "High-Level Meeting of the Global Zero Waste Alliance" held in Antalya, Turkey, as part of the UN Conference on climate change (COP31). Speaking at the meeting organised by Emine Erdoğan, the wife of the President of Turkey, she said the work carried out by Emine Erdoğan to advance the zero waste movement at the global level is noteworthy. She also noted that waste dumped into the sea causes great damage to reefs, marine life and food security, and reminded that waste is not something that disappears on its own once it is thrown away. Highlighting steps being taken by the Maldives to protect the environment, she noted the amendments brought to the waste disposal law ratified by the President last August. She said that under those amendments, bringing waste into the Maldives in violation of the regulations has been prohibited, and strict penalties have been set for parties that engage in the hazardous waste trade without permission. In addition, noting that waste disposal is everyone's responsibility, she said that countries like the Maldives that depend on imports must bear the burden of the waste produced in other countries, packaged and sent. Therefore, she said, the responsibility of producers should not end with the sale of goods, and that financial assistance must be received to adopt environmentally friendly methods in packaging goods and to reach a circular economy. Revealing that empowering children is important to build a generation that will take the lead in keeping the environment clean and preserved, she said that a sustainable change can only be reached by families, schools and the community working together. She also noted that real change is something that must begin at home, be nurtured within schools, and grow within the community.