While Covid-19 is still raging around the world, some cities have successfully kept infection numbers down. A case in point is Hong Kong, which has drawn great praise for the effective measures put in place by the government and the remarkable pandemic response of the people. Almost everyone wears masks outdoors, made sure to avoid crowded places at the height of the outbreak, and has focused on keeping good personal hygiene. This shows that, in the middle of a global crisis, we are capable of mass behavioural change. A high degree of awareness helped the city to fight Covid-19 and keep the virus at bay. It follows that, if we can highlight a problem correctly, we can bring about such mass behavioural change on a global scale. Think about what we have done during the Covid-19 crisis and apply it to addressing climate change, plastic pollution, air pollution, shark finning and more. The problem of plastic pollution is serious. More than 16,000 tonnes of solid municipal waste are produced in Hong Kong each day, of which 20 per cent is plastic waste. Hong Kong has 13 closed landfills, and the three strategic landfills in operation will be full in the next few years . We need manufacturers and producers to be responsible for the plastic they produce. Plastic is ubiquitous. Since it is made from crude oil, it indirectly contributes to a positive feedback loop in climate change – demand for plastic is demand for fossil fuels. This is a strong sign that alternatives to single-use plastics are essential in fighting climate change in addition to plastic pollution. As the world pushes harder for green energy, fossil fuel companies will be forced to shift their focus to plastic products to keep themselves in business. We must stand firm and cut down on single-use plastic in our daily lives. This could involve switching to paper straws and reusable bottles, paper takeaway boxes, reusable bags, and so on. Covid-19 is a zoonotic disease , caused by germs that spread between animals and people. As we keep destroying the habitats of countless species for our own convenience, this only brings animals closer to our environment. This could trigger a slew of zoonotic diseases in the future. A warming earth can also lead to more widespread, mosquito-transmitted diseases as warmer temperatures spread to northern latitudes. We need to promote protection of the environment and raise awareness to bring about behavioural change. We must deal with our waste sensibly and intelligently. Rethinking our behaviour and recycling from the perspective of preventing the next pandemic, we can strive toward a brighter, greener and more sustainable future. We can beat plastic pollution, just like we beat Covid-19. It starts with me, you and everyone as one. Ian Lo, ambassador, A Plastic Ocean Foundation