By Kemo Cham
The European Union Delegation to Sierra Leone and its local partners on Saturday, October 26th, 2024 conducted the 7th edition of the “EU Beach Clean-Up Day” with calls for sustainable environment protection initiatives.
The annual exercise which is conducted in partnership with relevant ministries, departments and agencies of the Sierra Leone government, is part of the EU’s global commitment to raising awareness about the urgent need to protect the environment and keep the oceans free from plastic pollution.
Some 750 volunteers from across a wide range of life gathered at the Lumley Beach to clean it of plastic and other waste materials. They included government officials, civil society, the diplomatic corps, the business community, students, and other volunteers from across the country.
A statement from the Delegation issued on Sunday revealed that approximately 1,500 kilograms of plastic waste along with tons of assorted trash were removed from the Lumley-Aberdeen beach stretch, demonstrating the power of collective action.
Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, one of the high profile participants at the event, was quoted lamenting the threat posed by plastic to the environment, hence her Council’s desire to collaborate with the EU to clean the beaches.
“Our oceans are at the heart of our planet as they provide air, support biodiversity, and sustain communities. Sadly, they are under threat by plastic waste. We must act by adopting sustainable practices and strengthening waste management to protect our oceans,” she said.
Also in attendance was Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Tunis, who took stock of new cleaning tools donated by the EU Delegation towards the regular cleaning of the beaches.
“The partnership between the EU and the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and by extension the National Tourist Board spans over a decade. The tools donated will add to the existing ones donated by the EU during previous cleaning exercises to support the routine cleaning of the beach by beach combers,” she said.
Jacek Jankowski, the new EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to environmental sustainability, warning that inaction against plastic pollution not only endangers marine life but also human health.
“Every minute, the equivalent of a truckload of plastic waste is dumped into our oceans, endangering marine life and ecosystems. If we fail to act now, these impacts will extend to our own health and well-being,” he said, noting that the EU is committed to working with Sierra Leone to address the crisis not just through events like the annual cleaning exercise but also through sustainable development projects aimed at protecting the environment.
“Our oceans are facing unprecedented challenges, but together we can make a real difference,” he said, noting that the clean-up exercise is a reminder that collective action is key to protecting our environment and ensuring that our beaches, marine life, and ecosystems thrive for future generations.
Sierra Leone’s beaches are considered among the most beautiful in the world, thanks to their pristine stretch, especially between Lumley and Aberdeen, which are home to some of the best hotels in the country.
Plastic pollution is just one of the numerous urgent environmental challenges facing Sierra Leone. The country is also struggling to counter mangrove degradation, and beach litter.
These problems are exacerbated by inadequate waste management and the widespread use of single-use plastics, which environmentalists say threaten both ecosystems and the economy.
Approximately 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated in the country each year, much of it from single-use plastics like bottles, bags, and packaging, according to a World Bank study. Only six percent of this plastic waste is recycled, with most ending up in the ocean or littering beaches, the study shows.
All of this have significant impact on the country’s tourism sector, which accounts for 2.5 percent of its GDP, government data shows.
Ambassador Jankowski said it is a shared responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of the beaches and preserving their natural beauty not only for Sierra Leoneans but also for tourists who come to enjoy it.
A key focus of the EU’s Sierra Leone Development Partnership and its Multiannual Indicative Programme for 2021-2027 is the Green Economy, which includes supporting the sustainable management of the country’s ecosystems and biodiversity.
