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Environment

Problem of

plastics in

our oceans

Plastics in the ocean

he United Nations Summit on target, the leaders can look to a recent eliminating avoidable plastic use and
TBiodiversity 2020 was convened by modelling analysis and report by The implementing refill systems and new
the President of the General Assembly, 30, Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ, “ delivery models—moves that would
September. Two days before the summit, Breaking the Plastic Wave” the technical yield a nearly 33% drop in waste
heads of state from 64 countries signed a underpinnings of which were published generation. At the same time—and
Leader’s Pledge for Nature, committing in a peer-reviewed paper in the journal where sustainable—manufacturers
to work together to put ecosystems— Science. must shift to alternative materials, such
land, ocean, and freshwater—on a path The report warns that unless as paper and compostable substances,
toward sustainability and highlighting governments, industry, and others which would eliminate one-sixth of
10 urgent actions to be taken, which act, the amount of plastic entering the projected plastic waste generation.
included “ eliminating plastic leakage” ocean by 2040 will nearly triple from The analysis also found that
to the ocean by 2050.” 11 million to 29 million tonnes per manufacturers and governments should
Unfortunately, complex problems rarely year. However, decisive and immediate move to ensure that products and
have simple solutions. That’s definitely action could significantly reduce the packaging are designed for recycling, a
the case when it comes to the challenge flow of plastic into the ocean and help move that could more than double the
of reducing the flow of plastic into the restore the ocean’s health and balance. In share of economically recyclable plastic.
ocean, a torrent that’s harming marine fact, “Breaking the Plastic Wave” found That change would benefit recyclers and
life and damaging habitats—with that the volume of plastic pollution
major repercussions for the billions of entering the ocean each year from land improve the livelihoods of more than
people who rely on a healthy marine could be cut by more than 80% within 11 million waste pickers worldwide,
environment. a generation using existing technologies who in 2016—the year which we used
The Summit which brought together and approaches. as our baseline—were responsible for
heads of state and other government To do so will require both upstream— about 60% of global plastic recycling.
representatives was held under the production and design—and In addition, governments must double
theme of “Urgent action on biodiversity downstream—use and recycling— mechanical recycling capacity—with
for sustainable development.” Leaders changes in the life cycle of plastics. And those in middle- and low-income
reinforced the need to make changes these efforts must be deployed together, countries expanding their waste
in eight key areas, among them moving with government and industry each collection rates—and restrict plastic
toward “sustainable fisheries and doing their part. waste exports, except where the exported
oceans”—which necessarily includes Some efforts are underway: Over the waste can be recycled effectively and
reducing sources of plastic waste in past few years, some governments and with safe working conditions.
order to achieve the aimed-for levels of industry leaders have stepped up with Lastly, action—including new regulations
marine protection and restoration. policies and voluntary initiatives, from and system-wide innovation—is needed
The two events mean that a group of banning plastic bags to dialing back the to address the flow into the ocean
leaders has committed to transformative use of plastic straws. But by themselves, of the chief sources of micro-plastic
change of our land and sea—and to these commitments would likely reduce pollution, such as tires, pellets, textiles,
collective action at key international the annual flow of plastic pollution by and personal care products. Oceans are
events over the coming months and only 7% by 2040. sustainable sources of food, jobs, clean
years. To work on cutting annual flows Getting to 80% reduction, the Pew- air, carbon and productive ecosystems
of plastic to the ocean and meet the 2050 SYSTEMIQ analysis found, starts with from the coasts to the high seas.

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