World Environment Day: AAPW Leads Advocacy to End Plastic Pollution, Calls for People-Centred Policies


By Kelsthel Reports


As the global community marks World Environment Day 2025, renowned non-governmental organization, Academic Associates PeaceWorks (AAPW) has reaffirmed its commitment to combating plastic pollution through inclusive, people-focused policies that promote sustainability, innovation, and collaboration.


This year’s theme, “End Plastic Pollution,” restates the urgency of collective action to address the escalating crisis of plastic waste that is threatening ecosystems, human health, and the global climate.


In a press statement signed by its Senior Communications Officer, Success Nwanedo, AAPW stressed that “plastic pollution is not only an environmental issue but also a threat to human health, livelihoods, and biodiversity, as it is a significant driver of climate change.”


AAPW commemorated the day by reflecting on the outcomes of its recent Policy Dialogue and Exhibition on the Green and Blue Economy in the Niger Delta, a Danish-funded initiative designed to strengthen community-based responses to climate change while fostering environmentally friendly economic alternatives.


According to the statement, the event, which brought together policymakers, experts, and grassroots stakeholders in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, highlighted three key priorities in the fight against plastic pollution and environmental degradation:


1. Sustainable Agriculture: AAPW advocates for farming practices that minimize plastic use and waste, while enhancing the economic viability of rural livelihoods. By empowering local farmers with eco-friendly methods, the organization believes the agricultural sector can be a model for climate resilience.


2. Green and Blue Economy Innovation: Strengthening waste management systems, promoting recycling enterprises, and protecting marine ecosystems were identified as essential strategies to reduce plastic dependency and enhance community resilience. The group emphasized that these sectors offer scalable, environmentally sound solutions to both pollution and poverty.


3. Stakeholder Dialogue and Inclusive Policy: AAPW called for ongoing collaboration between governments at all levels, civil society, and the private sector to develop inclusive policies that support the circular economy and environmental justice. The organization believes that people-centred policies are essential to drive lasting change.


These messages were further amplified during the Interstate Peer Learning Workshop held in Yenagoa, also under the same climate-focused project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.


The workshop drew attention to the interconnectedness of plastic pollution with broader sustainability challenges and urged policy actors to act decisively.


The statement notes, “We draw attention to the outcomes of our recent Policy Dialogue and Exhibition on the Green and Blue Economy, which reinforce three interconnected priorities in the fight against environmental degradation… These priorities are even more relevant in light of the Interstate Peer Learning Workshop held on Thursday in Yenagoa… where experts across sectors issued a clear and urgent appeal for policymakers and the general public to take this year’s theme seriously.”


The organization also issued a strong call to action, urging government institutions, businesses, civil society organizations, and citizens to embrace responsible production and consumption patterns, invest in sustainable alternatives, and build a culture of environmental responsibility.


“At Academic Associates PeaceWorks, we believe that ending plastic pollution is more than an environmental necessity; it is a moral imperative. Let this World Environment Day be a turning point in our collective journey toward a cleaner, healthier, and more just world,” the statement concluded.


AAPW’s initiative represents a growing movement in the Niger Delta and across Nigeria to localize climate action through policy engagement, community empowerment, and practical innovation.


As the world grapples with the consequences of unchecked plastic use, efforts like these re-echoe the need for a unified response; one that puts people and the planet at the heart of every solution.



kelsthel.ng News Desk

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