President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Namibians to play their part in reducing the use of plastic, recycling and supporting sustainable products and practices.

The call comes as Namibia joins the rest of the world in observing World Environment Day, marked on June 5th under the theme "Putting an End to Plastic Pollution".

Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah, in a statement, reaffirmed Namibia's unwavering commitment to combat plastic pollution and the intent to accelerate the transition to a cleaner and more resilient environment.

She says that through the implementation of the Circular Economy Programme, Namibia seeks to move away from the traditional "take-make-dispose" model and instead promote practices that are regenerative by design.

These include recycling, waste recovery and the sustainable use of resources, all of which the president says are crucial for reducing pressure on the environment and enabling green economic growth.

The Circular Economy Programme is expected to be rolled out under the Sixth National Development Plan, NDP6.

This is in addition to Namibia's consistent participation in global negotiations leading towards the adoption of a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, as part of the commitment to the phasing out of single-use plastics.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah also highlighted that the government is reviewing environmental regulations to enhance compliance and enforcement while it has banned the use of plastics in national parks.

She urged the private sector to invest in infrastructure for collection, sorting, and recycling of waste to ease the burden on municipalities and households.

The President says such investments would further create opportunities for green entrepreneurship and jobs.