Over half of Tanzanians consider pollution a serious problem
A garbage heap in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Photo Credit: Jacques Nkinzingabo for The New York Times
What you need to know:
- It detailed that most environmental issues in the community show that trash disposal, including plastic, accounted for 33 percent of the total; decorations, 33 percent, pollution of water sources, 13 percent, air pollution four percent and some other issues, two percent.
Dar es Salaam. Over half of Tanzanians consider pollution a serious problem in their communities, with plastic disposal and deforestation taking the lead, the Afrobarometer report has revealed.
The Afrobarometer report, which was released on April 5, by the Policy Research for Development (Repoa), noted that 54 percent of the population regard pollution as a serious problem.
The study, which was conducted last year, showed that Tanzanians rank trash disposal and deforestation as the most important environmental issues in their community. According to the report, urban residents are 60 percent more concerned about pollution than their rural counterparts, who were at 51 percent.
It detailed that most environmental issues in the community show that trash disposal, including plastic, accounted for 33 percent of the total; decorations, 33 percent, pollution of water sources, 13 percent, air pollution four percent and some other issues, two percent.
Speaking at the official launch, director of Research Dr Lucas Katera said it was done with the aim of looking at various issues, including the environment and the community’s understanding of climate change.
“We are aware that climate change is a global challenge at the moment, it is good that citizens understand it, if understanding is low, it means they don’t know what to do, so it is important to build their capacity, and it is necessary to involve citizens about the effects of climate change,” he said.
