By Tawonga Moyo

Mzuzu, July 12, Mana: Great Hope Foundation, an organization which is campaigning for the endorsement of Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, has urged city councils to endorse their campaign, which seeks to persuade people to transition from the use of fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

Director for the Foundation, Steve Chinsendenji made the call on Thursday in Mzuzu when the organization briefed Mzuzu City Council on their campaign and ask for an endorsement.

The Treaty, which has the endorsement of 191 member states, is a diplomatic and civil society campaign which aims to stop fossil fuel exploration and expansion and phase-out existing production in line with the targets of the Paris, France Climate Agreement of 2015.

Chinsendenji said the use of fossil fuel products such as thin plastics has contributed to adverse effects of climate change which come as a result of factors such as land and air pollution.

"Sometimes, people do things due to lack of knowledge on how their actions can negatively impact the environment; hence we want to raise awareness first and one way is through engaging city councils and other stakeholders for them to help us in our quest.

As a country, we have witnessed natural disasters which occurred due to adverse effects of climate change and we hope that by the end of our campaign, government establishes measures that combat the causes such as the use of thin plastics," Chinsendenji said.

He said the organization will soon take the campaign to districts like Karonga where mining activities take place to get the message across to the masses, for them to desist from actions that pollute the environment, hence leading to climate change.

In his presentation, environmental activist and Director of Green Homes Initiative, Maloto Chinkombero encouraged continual debate on the issue of thin plastics, saying doing so can eventually lead to lasting solutions.

"As African countries, our aid mostly comes from those Western countries whose economy depends on fossil fuels, so it's hard for us to put pressure on them to stop producing the fuels.

It's an issue that is debatable, hence it's important for us to keep on talking about it so that our concerns get heard and one such way, is by boycotting buying plastic products from companies that are taking a restraining orders against government's proposed ban on plastics," he said.

He said it's worrisome that the country is struggling to put an end to the use of thin plastics which destroy the environment and contribute to health problems, saying mindset change was crucial in addressing the matter.

In his remarks, Mayor for Mzuzu City Council, Kondwani Nyasulu applauded the organization for the move, and pledged to get the message across to people on the importance of minimal use of plastics for a safer environment.

Comenting on the matter, Assistant Director of Parks, Leisure and Environment for Mzuzu City Council, Gerald Mchacha described the meeting as important, saying in as much as plastics are produced by developed countries, campaigns can go a long way in making a difference.

The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty was adopted in 2015 in France at the United Nations' framework convention on climate change.

Some of the countries which agreed and joined the treaty include United States of America, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea.