MOPA launches monthly newsletter and hosts panel discussion on plastic pollution to mark World Environment Day 2021

The Maldives Ocean Plastics Alliance (MOPA) released the first volume of the organisation’s monthly newsletter “Green Bulletin” to mark this year’s World Environment Day. The first volume, which included a Foreword by the Founder and President of MOPA, Hon. Thoriq Ibrahim, featured updates on the organisation’s flagship PET Reverse Logistics Project, which was launched in late 2020. To date, MOPA, with the support and assistance of partner stakeholders, has collected in excess of 17 tonnes of PET waste and transported it for recycling.

To mark World Environment Day 2021, the organization also hosted its first panel discussion on Zoom. The theme of the discussion was the impact of single-use plastics in the Maldives, and featured prominent environmentalists and academics, including Ms Zameela Ahmed (Zam), the Country Manager of Live and Learn, Maldives, Mr. Hassan Ahmed (Beybe), President of Save the Beach Maldives and Ms Mariya Shareef (Mari), Resort Manager of Summer Island Maldives. Interventions were also made by Mr. Ahmed Naseer, CEO of NIG Capital, the author of MOPA’s Socioeconomic Impact Assessment of the Use of PET in the Maldives, Mr. Ali Amir, Executive Committee Member of MOPA and Mr. Ahmed Maumoon, Executive Committee Member of MOPA. The introductory remarks were delivered by MOPA’s Founder and President, Hon. Thoriq Ibrahim.

MOPA envisages regular panel discussions on pertinent issue areas related to the organisation’s mandate, featuring a broad cross-section of stakeholders in environmental management and sustainability in the country.

The monthly newsletter “Green Bulletin” is designed to feature academic articles on plastic pollution in the Maldives by key policymakers, passionate environmentalist and respected academics.