A recent World Bank report reveals that Pakistan and India, along with four other South Asian nations, are contributing to the cross-border transport of pollutants like solid waste, plastics, industrial effluents, domestic wastewater, and microplastics through 20 major rivers.
The report titled ‘Waves of Plastic: A Snapshot of Marine Plastic Pollution in South Asia’ highlights the significant environmental impact of pollution in the region, focusing on two major transboundary river basins: the Ganges-Brahmaputra Meghna (GBM) basin, encompassing Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, and the Indus River basin, which includes Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.
According to the report, 68% of Afghanistan’s plastic leakage, 66% of Pakistan’s, and 1.5% of India’s, flow into the Indus River. The report also notes that while Pakistan has the lowest rate of plastic waste leakage in South Asia, Sri Lanka has the highest.
Despite being landlocked, Bhutan and Nepal still contribute to oceanic plastic waste through their rivers. In contrast, India and the Maldives boast higher waste collection rates than other South Asian countries.
The report also points out that Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, as more populous nations, have lower per capita plastic leakage rates due to their relatively higher recycling rates—37% for Bangladesh, 40.6% for India, and 19.2% for Pakistan.
The World Bank emphasises that effective national policies and their implementation are crucial for reducing plastic waste that pollutes rivers and oceans.
While environmental ministries typically oversee policy approval, their success relies heavily on the cooperation of national, state, provincial, and local government institutions. The availability of necessary infrastructure and logistical support, along with strong leadership, is essential for effective policy enforcement.
The report also underscores the vital roles of the private and informal sectors in policy implementation, noting that policies enforced at the sub-national or city level tend to be more effective due to local mandates.
Global plastic pollution has surged at an alarming rate, with an estimated 171 trillion plastic particles floating in the oceans by 2019, according to research by the 5 Gyres Institute. The report warns that without legally binding global policies, marine plastic pollution could increase 2.6 times by 2040.
The study, which analysed surface-level plastic pollution data from 11,777 ocean stations across six major marine regions between 1979 and 2019, highlights the urgent need for global action.
