Students help to cut plastics

Students help to cut plastics

Last Friday was something of a truancy day for students in 100 countries. A movement that started in Sweden with schoolgirl Greta Thunberg convinced thousands to abandon classrooms -- often with teachers' support -- and protest against their government's climate change programmes. Only a few schools chose to put a positive programme above outrage -- one of which was located in Bangkok.

An international school brought the campaign against global warming directly to the government. But when the pupils and teachers went to the Public Service Centre at Government House, they had a vision beyond just criticising Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the cabinet.

Their petition demanded government help but simultaneously promised student involvement in acting against plastic pollution. The young students also added deforestation and air pollution to the list.

The encouraging part about the protest was the lack of rancour. It is not at all clear how divisive, noisy street politics can be of much help in fighting climate change. One understands that it is necessary to get government attention. But a calm petition and a promise of participation in national clean-up seem a better starting place for students and other citizens than a street protest.

In fact, the main topic chosen by Bangkok's version of the young Swede's "Fridays for Future" happened to pick on a topic finally getting government traction. There is one vital link missing from the government's plan -- public participation. Government House needs to fix this problem immediately, and invite all Thais, certainly students, to join the massive work ahead.

The students pointed out last week that Thailand is ranked amongst the top of the world's plastic polluters. By one current UN measure, it's No.6 on the list of worst polluters, and No.4 in Asean, which is the world's leading plastic polluter region. The government has announced several important steps that will have to be taken, but either current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha or his successor will need to do much more.

Early this month, the government announced plans for a total ban on the import of plastic waste for recycling. This always was a poorly conceived idea. All it has done is to allow foreign countries -- the West and Japan, chiefly -- to dump their garbage in Thailand. There never was a chance that Thai industry would recycle that rubbish. A year ago, things got even worse when China banned this refuse. A ban -- total, no exceptions -- is a good start.

As western countries are learning, most plastic recycling isn't even cost-effective. Another announcement from the government has ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to urgently move on using plastic waste as fuel for electricity generation. Burning plastic is a difficult task, and will require expertise. But the use of waste as fuel is a generally accepted form of power generation.

The missing part in the 18-year Power Development Plan is citizen involvement. There is no project to clean up Thailand. There are no citizen-driven programmes to encourage less plastic use and more replacements. The government has missed a wonderful chance to involve students directly in a needed battle against global warming.

Editorial

Bangkok Post editorial column

These editorials represent Bangkok Post thoughts about current issues and situations.

Email : anchaleek@bangkokpost.co.th

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (4)