President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has expressed hope that single-use plastic will be greatly minimized in all the ministries and government offices within the first 100 days of his administration. The president made the statement addressing the ceremony held to launch the campaign to minimise single-use plastic in President's Office. He the initiative is an important step towards the protection and preservation of the environment.
In his speech, President Solih sadly noted the society has neglected the reefs and oceans and underscored the most damaging of actions is polluting the oceans, through which a high number of plastic go into the sea. President Solih pointed overtime plastic and toxic materials make their way into the food chain of the marine life, and later into the food chain of humans.
President Solih also highlighted the use of single-use plastic such as plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic wrappers in the Maldives is at an alarmingly high rate. Speaking in this regard, he called for a lifestyle change and urged everyone to minimise waste and sustain the resources.
At the ceremony, the president initiated the use of multi-use glass water bottles, in place of single-use plastic bottles, by presenting glass bottles to all the employees of the President's Office.