NAIROBI, June 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Scouting on Friday launched a partnership aimed at creating a new movement for action in the battle against plastic pollution.
Susan Gardner, director of ecosystems at UNEP said in Nairobi that the partnership is geared at working together to create a new youth movement of action for the planet.
Already 27,000 young people from the scouts, girl guides, junior achievement and various universities, have undertaken a new Plastic Tide Turners Challenge Badge since its introduction in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius and Tanzania.
Kenyan Girl Guide Alice Moraa has trained over 5,000 young people to change their plastic habits and is working to implement proper garbage disposal mechanisms in Kisii County, western Kenya.
"We are encouraging youths to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics in an effort to reduce plastic pollution," Moraa said.
"The challenge badge is a strong contribution to scouting's environmental programming and our ongoing youth-led effort to engage them in making our communities and planet more sustainable," said Hany Abdulmonem, global director of scouting development with the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
He noted that the plastic tide turners challenge badge is now available to all 170 national scout organizations and will be promoted at the upcoming 24th World Scout Jamboree as part of a wider push to mobilize young people in taking action for the SDGs.
